Principal Mechanisms Manufacturing Engineer

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.

The Role

Every rotational actuator, separation mechanism, gimbal, and reaction wheel that leaves your production line will fly on a satellite that has to work flawlessly the first time, with no one there to fix it once it's in orbit, and as a Principal , the standards you set will shape how every one of those mechanisms gets built for years to come. Partnering with the Mechanisms Engineering team from day one, you will build the first prototype, design the build flow and fixturing, and carry these mechanisms, along with the electromechanical assemblies and machined components they integrate into, from initial concept through high-rate production. In your first 6 months, you'll build test articles supporting the team's development and qualification campaigns and provide the Design-for-Excellence (DFX) guidance that shapes how these mechanisms get built. Beyond your own programs, you will set manufacturing policy and standards, flag risk in upcoming designs before it becomes a problem, plan ahead for the manufacturability of future programs, and build the tools that make the rest of the Manufacturing Engineering team faster and more effective.

Responsibilities

Lead DFX reviews with the Mechanisms Engineering team, providing manufacturability, testability, and assembly guidance across mechanisms, machined components, and assemblies for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling

Lead the development of innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft mechanisms, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies

Set manufacturing policy, standards, and best practices for the Manufacturing Engineering organization, proactively identifying and mitigating manufacturability, process, and quality risks before they surface

Plan manufacturing strategy, tooling, and capacity investments ahead of future mechanism designs and program roadmaps

Research and pilot new assembly methodologies and automation technologies, using data-driven analysis to optimize current production and inform manufacturing business decisions

Create custom tools, automation, and processes — including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software — to support the manufacturing technologies you create and streamline the work of the broader Manufacturing Engineering team

Demonstrate the advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes, working with the design teams to continuously improve the manufacturability of the designs

Build test articles and support the Mechanisms Engineering team’s development and qualification test campaigns, iterating on hardware and processes as test results come in

Develop the subassembly build flow and iterate to create an efficient production flow for the satellite and ensure that build times align with current takt times

Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior manufacturing engineers, technicians, and design peers on mechanisms manufacturing best practices

Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to lead R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or other relevant engineering discipline

10+ years of experience in a high volume, rapid production environment in a manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role

Demonstrated track record of leading product development and/or process improvement initiatives

Strong understanding of mechanisms-specific industry standards such as NASA-STD-5017 (Design and Development Requirements for Mechanisms) and AIAA S-114 (Moving Mechanical Assemblies for Space and Launch Vehicles), as well as familiarity with the environmental qualification standards (SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000) the Mechanisms Engineering team designs against

Strong understanding of how to set up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds and transitioning from low to high-rate manufacturing

Deep understanding of mechanisms subassembly manufacturing technologies, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies

Strong understanding of design-for-excellence (DFX) principles, with the ability to guide design teams across mechanisms, machined components, and mechanical assemblies

Strong understanding of GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) and mechanical assembly drawings, with the ability to review and provide feedback on electrical and mechanical designs

Demonstrated ability to set manufacturing policy and proactively identify and mitigate manufacturing risk across programs, and to influence cross-functional teams to drive design changes for manufacturability

Experience developing or deploying tools, automation, or software that scale the efficiency of a manufacturing engineering team

Nice to Have

Familiarity with precision bearing standards (e.g., ABMA) and bearing preload techniques and measurement, as used in rotational actuators, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies

Experience designing tooling for mechanisms and electromechanical subassemblies

Some experience with wire harness manufacturing and integration

Demonstrated experience developing production processes from the ground up, including driving design improvements for manufacturing

Experience working closely with technicians and build tooling

Experience with aerospace manufacturing standards such as lubrication practices, torque specifications, and quality assurance standards

Familiarity with CAD software (NX or equivalent)

Familiarity with data analytics tools (e.g., Python, SQL) or automation platforms used to process manufacturing data and drive business decisions

Experience working with MES to set up the foundation for procedure creation and documenting non-conformances

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $175,000 – $200,000 + equity in the company

Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level

Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

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