Senior Satellite Mechanical Engineer, Optical Structures

K2 Space•Los Angeles, CA

5d•$140,000 - $175,000

About The Position

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. The company is backed by significant investment and has secured substantial contracts. K2 is mass-producing high-power satellite platforms for various missions. The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles has created an era of mass abundance, necessitating a new class of spacecraft engineered for harsh environments and to leverage massive rockets. K2 satellites offer unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits. With multiple launches planned, K2 is focused on developing the solar system and becoming a Kardashev Type II civilization. The company seeks motivated individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment and are excited about contributing to a groundbreaking Series C space startup. The role involves ownership of the mechanical elements of space environment payloads, including optical payloads. The focus is on broader mechanical skills such as structural design for stress and modal performance, design for manufacturing, design of lens and optical component mounting solutions, thermal analysis and mitigation, and cradle-to-grave ownership from concept to integration support. The engineer will partner with optical engineers, with a primary focus on mechanical design, structural performance, and hardware realization. Key activities within the first 6 months include defining requirements, creating concepts, performing analysis, defining test campaigns, and producing development hardware. Within the first year, designs will be validated through prototypes, and flight hardware will be built and qualified. Within two years, the hardware will fly in space, with direct support for production and integration.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, or other relevant engineering discipline
4+ years of experience in mechanical or optomechanical design and analysis, with a mechanical-heavy background
Proficiency with 3D CAD and software for detailed part and assembly design
Proficiency with finite element analysis software for modal, stress, and thermo-structural analysis
Hands-on experience with prototyping and testing

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with Siemens NX CAD
Experience designing, building, and testing mechanical assemblies for aerospace applications (satellite mechanical systems, payloads, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and/or aircraft structures and mechanisms)
Demonstrated proficiency in the principles of mechanical design, materials, and structural dynamics, and failure modes of complex mechanical systems in space environments and operations
Experience with the practical application of GD&T, including tolerancing of precision mechanical interfaces
Experience with precision and optical design elements such as flexure design, optical bonding, and kinematic mount design for space environments, and addressing optical stability, mounting deformation, thermal effects, and jitter
Demonstrated ability to personally design, build, and test hardware from a blank canvas, including troubleshooting and iterating designs based on downstream feedback
Independent and self-motivated mindset, with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills

Responsibilities

Take satellite mechanical and optical hardware from conceptual design through analysis, prototyping, flight manufacturing, and qualification to on-orbit operations in order to support internal and external customer needs.
Own structural, electronics thermal heatsinking, and lens mounting design and implementation for subsystems at the intersection of mechanical, optical, and electrical.
Perform hardware trades that steer both sub-system and top-level product direction.
Lead subsystem design reviews from kickoff through qualification and beyond.
Drive hardware development, including hands-on assembly and alignment, development testing (vibration, thermal-vac, modal), analysis correlation, and follow-on hardware iterations.
Collaborate with a cross-functional team – structures, optical, thermal, electrical, GNC, metrology, and manufacturing - to establish product requirements, company processes, and best practices for hardware design and manufacturing.
Continually own and refine sub-system deliverable schedules throughout development and production.