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Senior Mission Engineer Verified today

K2 Space · Los Angeles, CA · Space Systems · first seen 2026-07-16
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The Role

As a Mission Engineer within National Security Programs, you will serve as the primary technical interface between K2 Space, customers, and partners. You will develop and shape mission architectures for opportunities to host advanced payload capabilities onto K2's satellite bus platform. Your work will span early technical engagement, requirements formulation and negotiation, concept and architecture studies, payload-to-bus compatibility, proposal activities, and program execution.

You will work closely with Program Managers and key engineering disciplines to define and architect missions across mechanical, software, power, avionics, and other systems. You will ensure alignment to K2 Space's technology and capabilities, represent K2 in customer engagements and study reviews, and lead technical negotiations.

Responsibilities

  • Define, mature, and negotiate mission concepts. Support payload integration studies, mission analysis, system architecture trades, 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.
  • Serve as the primary technical interface for early customer engagement. Lead technical discussions, represent K2 Space in TEMs and study reviews, and ensure customer requirements align with K2 capabilities.
  • Coordinate cross-functional early study efforts with vehicle engineering, avionics, software, propulsion, thermal, and AI&T teams.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
  • 5+ years of experience working in the aerospace or space industry 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 in the aerospace or space industry 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 understanding of multibody dynamics.
  • Payload performance modeling and analysis (Electro Optical, Radio Frequency, Infrared, Communications, Networking, Position Navigation and Timing).
  • 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: $125,000 - $250,000 + equity.
  • Salary based on knowledge, skills, education, and experience level.
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, and paid parental leave.

Export Control

This role requires access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations (ITAR). The candidate hired must either be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license. U.S. persons include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain protected individuals.