Joblaze summary

In the role of Technical Program Manager at K2 Space, the individual will focus on defining and negotiating mission concepts while ensuring alignment with the company's satellite technology. This position requires a strong background in aerospace engineering, particularly with spacecraft systems, and excellent communication skills to engage with National Security customers. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in the space industry, with a preference for those who have worked directly with government clients. K2 Space is rapidly scaling its operations, aiming to produce a high volume of advanced satellites.

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.
Salary band is below the typical range for Management roles (median ~$170,000).
Starts above 20% of 559 comparable senior management roles in United States we track (median $154,800 across 139 companies).
Software appears in 0.8% of 983 comparable senior management roles in United States; System Architecture appears in 0.1% of 983 comparable senior management roles in United States.

Quick facts

What's the salary range?: K2 Space lists $125,000–$250,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?: At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Technical Program Manager role.
What's the tech stack?: Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: AI&T, Software, Space Systems, Spacecraft, System Architecture, Thermal.
What seniority level is this role?: K2 Space targets senior candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?: Full-time for this Technical Program 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

As a Technical Program Manager within National Security Programs, you’ll serve as the primary technical interface between K2 Space, customers, and partners as we develop and shape mission architectures for future and ongoing opportunities to host advanced payload capabilities onto K2’s satellite bus platform. You’ll primarily support mission-level engineering for early technical engagement, requirements formulation and negotiation, concept and architecture studies, payload-to-bus compatibility, proposal-phase activities, and program execution.

In this role, you will work closely with Program Managers and key engineering disciplines to define and architect missions (mechanical, software, power, avionics, etc.) and ensure alignment to K2 Space’s technology and capabilities. You will also represent K2 Space in critical customer engagements, study reviews, and technical negotiations.

The ideal candidate has strong multi-disciplinary engineering skills, hands-on experience, and excellent communication abilities to effectively collaborate with National Security customers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Define, mature, and negotiate mission concepts. Support initial payload integration studies, mission analysis, system architecture trades, system integration designs, and concept of operations development.
Develop and maintain technical documentation for system architecture, payload interface designs, spacecraft design capabilities and requirements, and concepts of operations to ensure customer requirements and architectures align with K2 Space’s technology offerings.
Serve as the primary technical interface for early customer engagement. Lead technical discussions, represent K2 Space in TEMs and study reviews, ensure customer requirements are understood, and ensure the customer understands the extent of K2 Space’s capabilities.
Coordinate cross-functional early study efforts. Work closely with vehicle engineering, avionics, software, propulsion, thermal, and AI&T teams to ensure solutions are practical and executable.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
5+ Years of experience working in the aerospace or space industry, working with spacecraft or space systems
Direct experience designing, developing, integrating or testing spacecraft or space systems.
Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems, space system architectures, and mission modeling and simulation.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Nice to Have

Master’s degree or above in an engineering discipline.
10+ Years of experience working in the aerospace or space industry, working with spacecraft, launch vehicles, airborne systems, or payloads
Experience working directly with National Security customers and systems
Satellite constellation modeling, simulation and analysis experience and intuitive understanding of multibody dynamics
Payload performance modeling and analysis (Electro Optical, Radio Frequency, Infrared, Communications, Networking, Position Navigation and timing etc)
Deep understanding of national security enterprise ground systems and architectures including command and control, networking, tasking, planning, scheduling, processing, dissemination, and tracking software architectures
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $125,000 - $250,000 + 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.

Technical Program Manager

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