Harness Design Engineer

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,

The Role

You willbe responsible forharness and wiringsystem design, analysis,testingand integration on some of the largest, most powerful, rapidlydesignedand manufactured satellites. You will have the unique opportunity tocollaboratewith a cross functional team of engineersand own tradesto reducecost,increaseintegrationrate,anddecreasemassof bus and payload harnessing. You will be the Responsible Engineer forharnesssystem design and components such as connectors, wire and cable,instrumentation,andheaters. You will helpestablishproduction testrequirementsand supportvehicleavionics integration to enablehigh-rateproduction andconstellation launch cadence. In your first two years, you will have qualified hardware for flight, completed avionics integration on the satellite bus, and flown yourhardware through intense LEO, MEO and GEO environments.

Responsibilities

Serve as Responsible Engineer forharnesssystem designfor bus avionics, mechanisms, RFsystems, and payloadsacross the Mega and Giga satellites

Define interface control documents for avionics boxes and bulkheadstooptimizesystem diagrams and schematics

Design, analyze,and release harnessing and secondary mounting hardwareinCADand production drawingsbased on system schematicsand vehicle layout

Drive design tradesto reduce costandselectharness components such as connectors,contacts,wire/cables,shield braid,heaters, RTDs and more

Collaborate closely with the manufacturing engineering and technicians on the harness and electro-mechanical subassembly teamstosolve in process issues and ensure high reliability

Execute development andqualificationtestingof harness components and assemblies for critical space missionsin MEO and GEO orbits

Collaborate closely with the cross functionalengineeringteamsto capture requirements, lead design trades, and integrate the design into the spacecraft systems

Effectively manage and communicate project plan, milestones, and schedule execution

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering or any equivalent combination of education and experience

2+ years of experience inelectrical harness design, routing, production, and system integration

Ability to work in a fast-paced and high velocity start-up atmosphere

Creative problem solver that can assess risk and make collaborative design and development decisions

Nice to Have

Hands-on experience with environmental testing for space harnessing such as thermal, thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, radiation, and EMI/EMC testing per SMC-S-016

Competence with electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, etc.)

Strong presentation experience in highly technical design forums and reviews (Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Flight Readiness Reviews, etc.)

Proficient with NX or similar CAD software including electrical harness routing

Experience withpractical application of GD&T and FEA

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $120,000- $160,000+ equity in the company

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

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

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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