{"id":652128,"url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-mission-payload-engineer","title":"Principal Mission Payload 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":"B","score":84,"open_postings":207,"ghost_share":0.188,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":86,"computed_at":"2026-11-09T06:03:00Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","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":175000,"max":230000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":230000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Verification & Validation","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-28T20:24:39Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-28","last_verified_at":"2026-11-09T22:02:25Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":73,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":72},"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 \nAs a Principal Mission Payload Engineer within National Security Programs, you’ll serve as the primary technical interface between K2 Space, customers, and partners as we integrate advanced payload capabilities onto K2’s satellite bus platform. You’ll support the entire program lifecycle - from early proposal phases through spacecraft design, development, integration, test, and on-orbit operations. \nIn this role, you will work closely with Program Managers and key engineering disciplines to define and negotiate payload interfaces (mechanical, data and software, power, mission, etc.) and develop integration and test plans that ensure successful mission execution. You will also represent K2 Space in critical customer engagements, design reviews, and verification milestones. \nA Principal Mission Payload Engineer, you will apply yourself to shaping the way that Mission Payload Engineering does business both internally and externally. \nThe ideal candidate has strong multi-disciplinary engineering skills, hands-on experience, and excellent communication abilities to effectively collaborate with National Security customers and stakeholders. \nResponsibilities \nManage payload integration across the full satellite lifecycle. Support initial proposals, design, development, integration, testing, launch and on-orbit commissioning. \nServe as the primary customer interface for payload integration. Lead technical discussions, represent K2 Space in design reviews, and ensure customer requirements are understood and met. \nDevelopment, maintain, and negotiate payload interface control documentation. Define mechanical, electrical, software, power, and mission interfaces, ensuring clear technical alignment between payload and bus teams. \nCreate and execute payload interface verification and validation plans. Develop testing strategies to ensure compliance with mission and interface requirements, and oversee final sell-off with internal and external stakeholders. \nCoordinate cross-functional integration efforts. Work closely with vehicle engineering, avionics, software, propulsion, thermal, and AI&T teams to ensure seamless payload integration. \nAssist in training new team members. \nDevelop common process workflows and tools to make an efficient operation. \nQualifications \nBachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline. \n5+ years of experience working in the aerospace or space industry, working with spacecraft, launch vehicles, airborne systems, or payloads. \n2+ years of technical project management and/or systems engineering experience. \nHands-on experience with developing, integrating and testing launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems. \nStrong understanding of mechanical, electrical, software, and power interfaces for satellite payloads. \nNice to Have \nMaster’s degree in an engineering discipline. \nExperience working directly with National Security customers. \n10+ years of experience working in the aerospace or space industry, working with spacecraft, launch vehicles, airborne systems, or payloads. \nHands-on spacecraft or aerospace integration and test experience, including environmental testing, verification and troubleshooting. \nDemonstrated ability to work under pressure and deliver results across multiple parallel priorities. \nExceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to work collaboratively in high-performing teams. \nActive Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance preferred; willing to pursue and maintain a clearance if not already cleared. \nCompensation and Benefits: \nBase salary range for this role is $175,000 - $230,000 + 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":6743,"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":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Life insurance","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-10T20:35:41Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":52,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.863,"p_room":0.6,"age_days":72,"expected_fill_days":86,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:late","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-09T06:03:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":230000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-mission-payload-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-mission-payload-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-10T02:53:55Z","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":6772,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-11T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"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-mission-payload-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":2,"usd":0.2},"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-mission-payload-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"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-mission-payload-engineer"},{"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-mission-payload-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-mission-payload-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":652128}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"k2space.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":652128},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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