Senior Fluids Manufacturing Engineer

About this role

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M 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 planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become 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 groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply.

The Role

You will spearhead the clean-sheet manufacturing effort for creating K2 Space’s first Pumped Fluid Loop (PFL), a system integral for unlocking the ability to fly the highest-powered payloads ever put into space. Partnering with design engineers, you will ensure manufacturability of designs, build the first prototype, design the build flow and tooling, and finalize the process for transitioning components and assemblies from design to rate production. You will lead the setup of the work center for fluid components creation, assembly, and test. In your first year you will iterate upon the design, tooling, and station, transitioning them to production.

Responsibilities

• Stand up the work center to manufacture and assemble our first Pumped Fluid Loop

• Lead DFM efforts with design engineering teams, influencing architecture decisions to optimize for cost, quality, scalability and integration risk

• Develop manufacturing planning and build flows for the satellite’s fluid systems

• Develop and deploy advanced manufacturing technologies, automation concepts, and tooling systems to support increasing production rate

• Collaborate with Engineers and Technicians to disposition nonconformances and evaluate any corrective actions

• Act as the manufacturing point of contact for system fill, proof, and leak

• Develop capacity models and rate ramp strategies to support rapid program growth

Qualifications

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

• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing engineering role

• Experience creating, improving, and deleting production process and workflows

• Experience interacting with CAD software and CAD models

• Experience qualifying (vibrational and thermal testing) components and assemblies

• Experience in assembling fluid systems

• Demonstrated knowledge of leak testing methods

• Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment

• Experience creating GSE, tooling, or fixtures to support manufacturing operations

Nice to Have

• Experience or exposure in a test or automation role

• Proficient in Python and/or Rust

• Experience with fluid component functional testing (pumps, accumulators)

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills

• Expert multitasking skills with the ability to juggle priorities while maintaining focus to deliver against program goals

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 + 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.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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