Joblaze summary

In the role of Principal Launch Mission Manager at K2 Space, the individual will oversee the integration and certification processes for satellite payloads, ensuring compliance with various launch vehicle requirements. This position requires a strong background in aerospace systems, with at least eight years of relevant experience and a deep understanding of certification and verification processes. Ideal candidates are seasoned professionals who can navigate complex technical projects and advocate for process improvements. K2 Space is poised for rapid growth, with ambitious plans for satellite production and launches.

Joblaze insights

Listed about 2 months ago — first seen on Joblaze September 3, 2026. Last confirmed on K2 Space's careers page November 2, 2026.
Salary band is above the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$130,000).
Starts above 27% of 122 comparable principal other roles we track (median $181,913 across 33 companies).

Quick facts

What's the salary range?: K2 Space lists $175,000–$200,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?: At least 8 years of relevant experience for this Principal Launch Mission Manager role.
What seniority level is this role?: K2 Space targets principal-level candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?: Full-time for this Principal Launch Mission Manager role at K2 Space.

From the original posting

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 Role

K2 has a large set of customer and launch partners, ranging from rideshare hosted payloads to full constellation scale roll out, spanning multiple launch vehicles, procurement methods, licensing methods, and launch sites. We are looking for exceptional individuals to support all of these customer and launch partner interfaces. As a launch mission manager, you will be hands-on supporting payload, vehicle, and launch integration certification, verification, and execution actions.

You’ll own certification across multiple threads, also working closely with our internal design reliability, program managers, and leadership team. You’ll be an advocate for K2 and our customer pushing for simplification of process, implementation of lessons learned, and state of the art certification methods to enable our constellation level roll outs. You’ll work with our legal teams to enable appropriate licensing and insurance closure. You’ll work with our engineering teams to feed back best-practices and lessons learned from integrated spacecraft testing to optimize future payload missions. You’ll work with all teams to help ensure successful spaceflight outcomes.

In this position you’ll be the voice of K2 in multiple forums and efforts – ultimately being responsible for ensuring there are no certification, verification, or execution show-stoppers on day of payload integration, spacecraft testing, or launch.

Responsibilities

Function as K2 point of contact for all things related to certification, to include range safety compliance, launch vehicle user guide compliance, ground operations plan, payload certification plan, customer to launch provider interactions, and qualification reports
Serve as launch provider point of contact, helping ensure launch vehicle ICDs are closed and verified, launch operations plan is robust, and the mission executes flawlessly
Serve as payload provider point of contact in certification forums, ensuring payload meets all applicable requirements from both K2 and the launch provider
Support payload integration readiness reviews, pre-ship reviews, launch and flight readiness reviews, in various capacities
Review and help shape future customer and launch vehicle contracts and SOWs
Shape our certification process for all of the above, helping come up with new methods for K2 to increase velocity

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or science
8+ years of experience in technical aerospace or manufacturing
2+ years of experience managing projects, technical trades, and/or technical teams
Exceptional understanding of launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems and their certification and/or verification processes
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Nice to Have

Master’s degree or PhD in an engineering or science discipline
10+ years of experience in technical aerospace or manufacturing
Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance
Experience leading Spacecraft qualification, verification, or certification efforts for single or constellation level projects
Experience working with payload or launch provider contracts and SOWs
Proven ability to innovate in process improvement and lessons learned processes
Skilled in generating executive summaries to drive decision making through senior leadership discussions
Demonstrated track record of project ownership, responsibility for execution, and successful outcomes
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

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!

Standard company text repeated across K2 Space's postings is omitted here.

Principal Launch Mission Manager

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