---
title: 'Solar Design Engineer at K2 Space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/solar-design-engineer-k2-space-los-angeles-gt3j6n5pwqw4'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-18'
---

# Solar Design Engineer at K2 Space 

- **Company:** K2 Space 
- **Location:** Los Angeles, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-04-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-18
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/k2spacecorporation/jobs/5204344008

## Job description

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 rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.

## 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!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by [22 C.F.R. § 120.15](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/120.15) or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

## Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

## About K2 Space 

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: K2 Space builds the largest, highest-power satellite platforms on orbit, enabling previously impossible missions across LEO, MEO, GEO, and cislunar space.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C, $440.53M total raised)
- **Headquarters**: Torrance, California, United States (Los Angeles area)
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Neel Kunjur (Co-Founder, CTO) and Karan Kunjur (Co-Founder, CEO) – both SpaceX veterans

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aerospace & Defense – satellite manufacturing and space platforms
- **Target customers**: Government/military (DoD, Space Force), commercial satellite operators (e.g., SES), and mission integrators requiring high-power, large-format spacecraft
- **Mission statement**: "Build bigger" – scale changes what’s possible; bigger satellites deliver more power, mass on orbit, and resilience at lower cost.

## Products & Services
- **Mega Class Satellite Platform**: A high-power (20 kW), high-mass (3,000 kg payload) satellite bus designed for mass production and vertical integration. Suitable for LEO, MEO, GEO, and cislunar missions. Built in-house with radiation-tolerant architectures, redundant avionics, and high-Δv propulsion.
- **Launch Stacking**: By stacking 10 Mega Class satellites per launch vehicle, K2 maximizes power to orbit (200 kW per launch), drastically reducing per-satellite launch costs.
- **End-to-End Mission Services**: Design, build, integrate, and operate custom satellite missions for defense, communications, and sensing applications.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – $440.53M (Series C of $250M raised ~6 months ago, per CB Insights)
- **Notable Investors**: Alpine Space Ventures, Altimeter Capital, Lightspeed, T. Rowe Price, Redpoint Ventures, and 20+ others
- **Notable Partners/Contracts**: $30M military contract for a “Mega” satellite mission; partnership with SES to develop next-generation MEO network
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 106% YoY to 186 employees; active job postings up 391% YoY (172 open roles); plans for a three-orbit demonstration mission; Pentagon’s former space policy chief joined as Head of Strategy

## Competitive Advantages
- **Size & Power Advantage**: Mega Class platform delivers 10x the power (20 kW vs. 2 kW) and significantly more mass than typical constellation satellites, enabling higher-performance payloads.
- **Vertical Integration**: 80% of each satellite built in-house – drives reliability, accelerates production, and enables rapid iteration.
- **Resilient Design**: Radiation-tolerant architectures, redundant avionics, and high-Δv propulsion allow operation in the harshest orbits (GEO, MEO, LEO, cislunar).
- **Cost Efficiency**: Stacking 10 satellites per launch vehicle dramatically lowers per-unit launch cost, making large satellites economically viable.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale Production**: Series C funding directed toward scaling manufacturing capacity and building out the Torrance factory.
- **Three-Orbit Demonstration**: Planning a mission to demonstrate capabilities across LEO, MEO, and GEO – a key milestone for customer validation.
- **Defense & Commercial Expansion**: Pursuing military contracts (DoD, Space Force) and commercial partnerships (SES) to anchor long-term revenue.
- **Talent Acquisition**: Aggressively hiring across avionics, mechanical, GNC, production, and program management roles to support rapid growth.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: "First principles thinking" and a bias toward building big, ambitious hardware. The team includes many SpaceX, Anduril, and NASA JPL alumni.
- **Work Environment**: Fast-paced startup with a focus on vertical integration and hands-on engineering. Office in Torrance, CA (Los Angeles area). Some roles (e.g., GNC) are remote-eligible.
- **Growth Opportunity**: 106% headcount growth in the past year, 172+ open positions – strong career advancement potential.
- **Perks & Mission**: Work on the largest satellites in the industry, directly impacting national security and next-generation space infrastructure. "Make previously impossible missions possible."
- **Notable**: Active job postings include roles in avionics, mechanical engineering, production, RF payload, dynamics, and program management (TS/SCI clearance may be required for some roles).

## Sources
1. [K2 Space Official Website](https://www.k2space.com/)
2. [K2 Space Careers Page (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/k2spacecorporation)
3. [LinkedIn – K2 Space Corporation](https://www.linkedin.com/company/k2-space)
4. [CB Insights – K2 Space Profile](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/k2-space)
5. [Bloomberg Technology – K2 Space Raises $110M Series B](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-07/k2-space-raises-110-million-to-scale-up-satellite-production) (referenced in search results)
6. [SES Partners with K2 Space – News Article](https://www.k2space.com/news) (referenced in search results)

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