{"id":652262,"url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-flight-software-engineer-2","title":"Principal Flight Software Engineer","company":{"id":171840,"name":"K2 Space","domain":"k2space.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/k2-space","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":85,"open_postings":195,"ghost_share":0.159,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":88,"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Los Angeles, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":200000,"max":240000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":240000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"SystemVerilog","optional":false},{"name":"VHDL","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":true},{"name":"Linux","optional":true},{"name":"RTOS","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2025-12-11T00:50:21Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-12T03:50:41Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":305,"trust":{"level":"ghost","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale","company_stale"],"days_open":305},"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.\nThe 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.\nWith 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.\nThe Role\nThe software team at K2 strives to blur the lines between the various types of software development and encourages team members to get into parts of the stack they may not otherwise have experience with. This spectrum includes GNC algorithms (Rust, C++), application software on flight computers (Rust, C++), to embedded software on microcrontrollers (Rust, C++),to operating systems (Rust, C++, C), to HDL programming (VHDL, SystemVerilog), to test systems (Python), and many things inbetween. By doing this, we create a stronger team with more capable engineers. For now, this does not include front-end, artificial intelligence, or machine learning development.\nAs a part of the team, you will be responsible for the development and verification of the software used to fly some of the largest spacecraft that have ever been flown. You will be able to write mission-critical code that controls propulsion systems, attitude control systems, and power systems to ensure safe and reliable operation of the vehicle. In your first 6 months you will developcore pieces of the software architecture including the strategies for fault tolerance, real-time control, and telemetry downlink. In your first year you will implement larger software systems and begin verifying your code using both software and hardware in the loop simulators. In your first two years you will operate your code on multiple spacecraft, demonstrating robust performance in demanding missions.\nResponsibilities\nCreate software architecture for real-time, fault tolerant control of a 20kW+ spacecraft\nDevelop software applications for control of spacecraft subsystems, including propulsion, guidance/attitude control, thermal, power, and communications systems\nDesign and implement state machines for robust operation of the spacecraft\nCreate and utilize robust tools to allow for rapid deployment of quality code\nPerform data analysis and anomaly investigation to identify and resolve software bugs\nSupport integration and testing of the spacecraft subsystems\nBuild and maintain infrastructure to increase reliability when developing and testing software \nQualifications\nBachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a STEM discipline or 10+ years of professional experience in software engineering \nDevelopment experience in Rust, C/C++, Python, VHDL, SystemVerilog\nNice to Have\nExperience with spacecraft flight software development\nFluency with Linux systems programming and driver development\nExperience with continuous integration and continuous delivery systems\nExperience building or working with hard real-time embedded systems (bare-metal or RTOS)\nBasic knowledge of electronics, computer architecture, and control systems\nExperience developing or working with state machines\nExperience with software verification and testing methods\nExperience with software and network performance analysis and debugging\nExperience with implementing Extended Kalman Filters for inertial sensors\nExperience with fault tolerant software design and implementation\nExperience defining and creating test systems for both hardware-in-the-loop and hardware-out-of-the-loop\nCompensation and Benefits:\nBase salary range for this role is $200,000 - $240,000 + equity in the company\nSalary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level\nComprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks\nIf 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!\nIf you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.\nExport Compliance\nAs 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.”\nThe 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 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.\nEqual Opportunity\nK2 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6377,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Life insurance","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace","Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-10T20:35:41Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":8,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.3,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":305,"expected_fill_days":88,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","ghost","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":240000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-flight-software-engineer-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-flight-software-engineer-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-12T07:32:42Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":12082,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":171840},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=171840"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-flight-software-engineer-2"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-flight-software-engineer-2"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-flight-software-engineer-2"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/k2-space-principal-flight-software-engineer-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-flight-software-engineer-2"}]}