Joblaze summary

In the role of Senior Ground Software Engineer at K2 Space, the individual will develop software essential for building, testing, and operating advanced satellite systems. Proficiency in Rust for backend development and TypeScript for frontend work is crucial, alongside experience in software engineering and system design. This position is ideal for seasoned engineers with a strong background in software solutions, particularly those with experience in the aerospace sector. K2 Space is rapidly scaling its operations, aiming to produce a significant number of satellites, which presents a dynamic environment for innovation.

Joblaze insights

Listed about a month ago — first seen on Joblaze September 3, 2026. Last confirmed on K2 Space's careers page October 27, 2026.
This exact title is also open at 1 other location at K2 Space: Los Angeles, CA.
Salary band is below the typical range for Backend roles (median ~$180,000).
Starts above 40% of 189 comparable senior backend roles that list Kubernetes we track (median $157,000 across 56 companies). See Kubernetes salary trends
Kubernetes appears in 27% of 1239 comparable senior backend roles; Vue appears in 0.6% of 1239 comparable senior backend roles.

Quick facts

What's the salary range?: K2 Space lists $150,000–$200,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?: At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Senior Ground Software Engineer role.
What's the tech stack?: Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Docker, JavaScript, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, Rust, TypeScript.
What seniority level is this role?: K2 Space targets senior candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?: Full-time for this Senior Ground Software Engineer 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

As a Senior Software Engineer on our Ground Software team, you are responsible for creating the software that is used to build, test, and fly our satellites and customer payloads. You will build upon the mission software platform used to fly K2's Gravitas satellite, developing new capabilities and automation as we scale to support multiple constellations. You will collaborate closely with internal Mission Operations and Flight Software teams to define and implement our overall mission architecture, and you will work with external customers to scope and deliver software that meets their payload needs.

You will have the opportunity to work in exciting, interdisciplinary domains like: satellite command and control, constellation operations, mission automation, radio communications, astrodynamics, and more.

Responsibilities

Design and implement software that facilitates the build, test, and operations of K2's vehicles and our customers' payloads
Collaborate with Mission Operators and Engineers across the company to identify and scope software solutions to complex technical and business problems
Facilitate software design reviews, architecture discussions, and code reviews to align stakeholders on technical direction
Work across our stack (Rust backend, TypeScript/Vue frontend) to support development, test, and operations milestones
Support internal and external customers in an on-call capacity as your software is used to drive ground test activities and on-orbit spacecraft operations
Mentor other engineers to build a strong team culture and software engineering practices

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a STEM discipline or 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering
Additionally, 5+ years of experience building software solutions in a professional environment

Nice-to-Have

Experience working on space missions and/or the satellite ground segment
Experience with Rust or another statically-typed backend programming language (Go, C++, Java, C#, TypeScript)
Experience with JavaScript/TypeScript and modern frontend development tooling (Vue, React, Svelte)
Experience with version control, continuous integration, build, deployment, monitoring
Experience developing HTTP or gRPC APIs
Experience with SQL databases (PostgreSQL or similar)
Experience designing and implementing event-driven architectures
Experience developing reliable, scalable systems
Experience with Docker and/or Kubernetes
Experience with WebSockets and/or Server-Sent-Events (SSE)
Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices and relevant certifications/standards (SOC2, FedRAMP)
Familiarity with networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, QUIC)
Familiarity with data streaming technologies such as NATS, Pulsar, or similar

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $150,000 - $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.

Senior Ground Software Engineer

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