Senior Solar Manufacturing Engineer

Employer description

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 

You will lead the transformation of solar array designs into reliable, flight-ready hardware at scale. Deeply embedded in the build of solar modules and photovoltaic arrays, you’ll operate at the center of production to drive process development, solve complex manufacturing challenges, and ensure hardware is built with precision, repeatability, and speed. 

You’ll own critical manufacturing processes end-to-end, from early design engagement through production ramp and sustained operations. This role is built for someone who combines strong technical judgement with a bias for action. Your impact will extend beyond individual builds, shaping the foundation of manufacturing systems designed to deliver high-performance solar hardware, reliability and at scale, for mission pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space.  

Responsibilities 

• Own manufacturing processes for solar modules, photovoltaic array integration, and associated mechanical structures from development through production 

• Develop, qualify, and maintain assembly procedures, tooling requirements, and build sequences that make flawless execution repeatable at scale 

• Drive design-for-manufacturing feedback into array and module designs in partnership with the Solar Design team, identifying producibility risks early in the design cycle 

• Lead root cause investigation and corrective action on build escapes, non-conformances, and process failures 

• Support sourcing and qualification of manufacturing equipment, fixtures, and tooling; manage vendor relationships to ensure on-spec delivery 

• Mentor and technically guide Manufacturing Engineering team members 

• Represent manufacturing engineering in design reviews and build readiness reviews 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, materials or other relevant engineering discipline 

• 5+ years of experience in a high-volume manufacturing, production, or hands-on engineering environment 

• Experience working with photovoltaic modules, solar cells, or electromechanical array assemblies 

• Demonstrated ownership of end-to-end manufacturing processes in high-rate environments, including process documentation, tooling, and build execution 

• Track record of driving DFM improvements that tangibly reduced cost, cycle time, or defect rate 

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and comfortable engaging Design, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to resolve issues and close builds 

Nice to Have 

• Hands-on background in high-volume or automated solar manufacturing environments 

• Experience ramping a production line from pilot builds to sustained production rate 

• Experience in space, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments with rigorous acceptance test requirements 

• Experience working closely with technicians and build tooling 

• Familiarity with CAD software (NX or equivalent) and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) 

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.