K2's plan doesn't stop at satellite buses. By operating our own vehicles and manifesting regular rides to space, K2 is uniquely positioned to design, test, and deploy-at-scale ambitious optical payloads in MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space on unprecedented timelines. The satellite bus is the platform - the payloads are the mission
In this role, you will have cradle-to-grave ownership over the mechanical elements of space environment payloads including optical payloads, with a focus on broader mechanical skills – including but not limited to structural design for stress and modal performance; design for optimal manufacturing; design of lens and optical component mounting solutions that can perform in launch and space environments; thermal analysis and mitigation; and cradle-to-grave ownership from clean-sheet trades, design, analysis, testing, and integration support. You'll partner closely with optical engineers, but your center of gravity is mechanical design, structural performance, and hardware realization
In your first 6 months, you will define mechanical and optomechanical requirements, create initial concepts and trades, perform preliminary and detailed analysis, define development test campaigns, and produce development hardware. In your first year, you will validate your designs through prototype iterations and build and qualify flight hardware. In your first two years you will fly your hardware in space while directly supporting production and integration
Take satellite mechanical and optical hardware from conceptual design through analysis, prototyping, flight manufacturing, and qualification to on-orbit operations in order to support internal and external customer needs
Own structural, electronics thermal heatsinking, and lens mounting design and implementation for subsystems at the intersection of mechanical, optical, and electrical
Perform hardware trades that steer both sub-system and top-level product direction
Lead subsystem design reviews from kickoff through qualification and beyond
Drive hardware development, including hands-on assembly and alignment, development testing (vibration, thermal-vac, modal), analysis correlation, and follow-on hardware iterations
Collaborate with a cross-functional team – structures, optical, thermal, electrical, GNC, metrology, and manufacturing - to establish product requirements, company processes, and best practices for hardware design and manufacturing
Continually own and refine sub-system deliverable schedules throughout development and production