Join K2 Space as a Senior Solar Design Engineer to drive the design and deployment of high-power solar arrays for advanced satellite systems.
Posted by employer 6 months ago
First seen on Joblaze 2 months ago
Last verified on the company career page 23 hours ago
Requirements
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: work arrangement, visa sponsorship.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Senior Solar Design Engineer at K2 Space is responsible for the design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment of high-power solar arrays essential for the company's ambitious satellite projects. This role requires expertise in solar array systems, electrical performance modeling, and collaboration across various engineering disciplines. Ideal candidates will have over five years of experience in space applications and a strong background in mechanical or electrical engineering. K2 Space is a rapidly growing company focused on innovative satellite technology, making this position critical to its mission.
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 in line with the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$129,011).
- Starts above 45% of 1477 comparable senior other roles we track (median $140,250 across 200 companies).
Quick facts
- What's the salary range?
- K2 Space lists $140,000–$175,000 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Senior Solar Design Engineer role.
- 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 Solar Design 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
Critical to achieving K2's vision of deploying at scale across MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space are the solar arrays. Scaling to constellations requires engineers who can span technical domains from module technology and electrical power system interactions to soft goods, deployment mechanisms, structures, integration, and high-rate production.
You will drive the design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment of high-power solar arrays at production scale. The development timelines, operating environments, mission lifetimes, and cost targets we are pursuing demand meaningful innovation — you will tackle these challenges with the full resources and support of K2.
Responsibilities
- Design and deliver solar array electrical and mechanical subsystems, contributing to system architecture and lifecycle performance margin analysis
- Develop and maintain electrical performance degradation models across environment variations including radiation, thermal cycling, and UV exposure
- Define and execute assembly-level acceptance and qualification test procedures
- Collaborate with avionics, structures/mechanisms, software, and production teams on solar system requirements, integrated qualification/acceptance testing, and on-orbit data review
- Support design reviews, own subsystem deliverables, and maintain accurate development schedules out to 9+ months
- Drive manufacturing processes for in-house fabrication and assembly, including evaluation of manufacturing equipment, development of work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line testing
- Work with the production team to develop factory layouts and processes that enable high-rate solar array builds
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field
- 5+ years of experience in the design, manufacture, and test of solar arrays for space applications
Nice to Have
- Experience with solar array system development for space applications, including requirements definition, design, development testing, manufacturing, and qualification
- Background working across multiple solar array architectures with variations in cell, module, and system technologies for high-power, long-life applications
- Familiarity with AIAA S111/S112, SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5017, and NASA-STD-4005 for the design and qualification of solar modules, moving mechanism assemblies, and spacecraft charging effects
- Experience designing solar arrays for resilience to radiation environments
- Understanding of structural analysis and failure modes for complex mechanical systems in space environments
- Understanding of high-voltage solar array degradation analysis and failure modes
- Independent and self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills across disciplines
Compensation and Benefits:
- Base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 + equity in the company
- Salary and level 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.