Join K2 Space as a Solar Design Engineer to design high-power solar arrays for advanced spacecraft in a fast-paced environment.
Posted by employer 6 months ago
First seen on Joblaze 2 months ago
Last verified on the company career page 13 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
Requirements
- Experience
- 0+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: work arrangement, visa sponsorship.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
In the role of Solar Design Engineer at K2 Space, the individual will focus on the design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment of high-power solar arrays for advanced spacecraft. Key skills include a background in engineering or physics, hands-on hardware experience, and familiarity with solar technology and performance analysis. This position is ideal for early-career professionals eager to take ownership of significant projects in a fast-paced, innovative environment. K2 Space is poised for rapid growth, with ambitious plans for satellite production and deployment.
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 below the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$129,582).
- Starts above 34% of 29 comparable junior other roles that list Python we track (median $100,000 across 18 companies). See Python salary trends
- Python appears in 10.4% of 807 comparable junior other roles; CATIA appears in 0.4% of 807 comparable junior other roles.
Quick facts
- What's the salary range?
- K2 Space lists $100,000–$140,000 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 0 years of relevant experience for this Solar Design Engineer role.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: ANSYS, CAD, CATIA, MATLAB, Materials Characterization, NX.
- What seniority level is this role?
- K2 Space targets junior candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this 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. As a Solar Engineer, you will contribute to the design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment of high-power solar arrays for some of the largest spacecraft ever flown. You'll work across technical domains; from module technology and electrical power systems to deployment mechanisms, structures, and production — learning from experienced engineers while taking on meaningful ownership of hardware from day one.
First 6 months: Support solar array subsystem development through analysis, component-level testing, and manufacturing process documentation.
First year: Own specific build and test activities for flight hardware, from assembly through acceptance testing.
First two years: Contribute to full lifecycle solar array development across multiple vehicle builds, developing expertise in both design and production.
Responsibilities
- Support the design and analysis of solar array electrical and mechanical subsystems
- Assist in the development and maintenance of electrical performance degradation models across environment variations
- Execute assembly-level acceptance and qualification test procedures and document results
- Collaborate with avionics, structures/mechanisms, software, and production teams on integration activities and test campaigns
- Support design reviews with analysis products and test data
- Contribute to manufacturing processes for in-house fabrication and assembly, including work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line testing
- Participate in on-orbit data review and anomaly investigation efforts
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field
- Internship in at least one of: photovoltaics, power systems, or materials characterization
- Hands-on hardware experience through internships, research, design competitions, or extracurricular projects
Nice to Have
- Internship or research experience with solar arrays or power systems for space applications
- Exposure to solar cell or module characterization techniques (IV curves, electroluminescence, flash testing)
- Familiarity with structural analysis tools (Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent) or thermal analysis tools
- Familiarity with space environment effects on materials, including radiation, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen
- Experience with CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks) and practical GD&T application
- Exposure to manufacturing processes such as soldering, layup, or electromechanical assembly
- Python or MATLAB proficiency for data analysis
- Independent and self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
Compensation and Benefits:
- Base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,000 + 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.