Mission Systems Engineer

K2 Space is building large, high‑powered spacecraft for the next generation of space development. Backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Altimeter Capital, and others ($200M raised to date), we intend to mass‑produce the highest‑powered satellite platforms ever built for missions across LEO to Deep Space.

The rise of launch vehicles like Falcon 9 and Starship enables a move from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance. We believe this new era requires spacecraft with a fundamentally different design to fully utilize the massive rockets coming to market.

We’re a team that believes the future lies in building large, high‑powered satellites that can handle multiple orbits. This is a necessity if we ever want to develop the solar system, and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization.

As a Mission Systems Engineer within National Security Programs, you’ll serve as the primary technical interface between K2 Space, customers, and partners as we develop and shape mission architectures for future and ongoing opportunities to host advanced payload capabilities onto K2’s satellite bus platform. You’ll primarily support mission‑level engineering for early technical engagement, requirements formulation and negotiation, concept and architecture studies, payload‑to‑bus compatibility, proposal phase activities, and program execution.

In this role, you will work closely with Program Managers and key engineering disciplines to define and architect missions (mechanical, software, power, avionics, etc.) and ensure alignment with K2 Space’s technology and capabilities. You will also represent K2 Space in critical customer engagements, study reviews, and technical negotiations.

The ideal candidate has strong multi-disciplinary engineering skills, hands‑on experience, and excellent communication abilities to effectively collaborate with National Security customers and stakeholders.

• Define, mature, and negotiate mission concepts. Support initial payload integration studies, mission analysis, system architecture trades, system integration designs, and concept of operations development.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation for system architecture, payload interface designs, spacecraft design capabilities and requirements, and concepts of operations to ensure customer requirements and architectures align with K2 Space’s technology offerings.
• Serve as the primary technical interface for early customer engagement. Lead technical discussions, represent K2 Space in TEMs and study reviews, ensure customer requirements are understood, and communicate K2 Space’s capabilities.
• Coordinate cross‑functional early study efforts. Work closely with vehicle engineering, avionics, software, propulsion, thermal, and AI&T teams to ensure solutions are practical and executable.

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience working in the aerospace or space industry, with spacecraft or space systems.
• Direct experience designing, developing, integrating or testing spacecraft or space systems.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems, space system architectures, and mission modeling and simulation.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Master’s degree or above in an engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in the aerospace or space industry, including launch vehicles, airborne systems, or payloads.
• Experience working directly with National Security customers and systems.
• Satellite constellation modeling, simulation, and analysis experience.
• Payload performance modeling and analysis (Electro‑Optical, Radio Frequency, Infrared, Communications, Networking, Positioning, Navigation and timing).
• Deep understanding of national security enterprise ground systems and architectures.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

• Base salary range: $100,000 – $150,000 + equity.
• Salary based on knowledge, skills, education, and experience.
• Comprehensive benefits: unlimited paid time off, medical/dental/vision, life insurance, paid parental leave, and other perks.

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we…