{"id":652122,"url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027","title":"Software Engineering Intern – Summer 2027","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":200,"ghost_share":0.17,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":86,"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"intern","employment_type":"internship","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":30,"max":40,"currency":"USD","period":"hour","gross":null,"usd_annual":80000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":1,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":true},{"name":"Linux","optional":true},{"name":"RTOS","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-01T05:06:54Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-17","last_verified_at":"2026-10-18T00:07:37Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":46,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":46},"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 \nWe’re looking for a stellar intern to join our team for a 3 month internship. Working closely with K2 engineers in a highly collaborative environment, you will be responsible for owning a software engineering project end-to-end and supporting actual on-orbit operations of our spacecraft. You will interact with advanced technologies like cyber-physical system simulators, satellite sensors and actuators, build systems, GNC algorithms, and more. \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 \nMust be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or other relevant engineering discipline \n6+ months of experience using technical engineering skills outside of the university classroom setting (eg: laboratory, research, extracurricular project teams, volunteering, personal projects or prior internship/work experience) \nDevelopment experience in Rust, C/C++, or Go \nAdditional Requirements \nAvailable for a minimum 12 week internship in person at our HQ in Torrance \nNice to Have \nAbility to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers \nExperience with spacecraft flight software development \nExperience 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 defining and creating test systems for both hardware-in-the-loop and hardware-out-of-the-loop \nCompensation \nHourly pay range for this non-exempt role is $30 - $40 per hour \nHourly rate will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level \nHousing and travel stipend may also be available \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":5389,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":1,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-18T18:57:23Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":62,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.858,"p_room":0.72,"age_days":46,"expected_fill_days":86,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:mid","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":80000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-18T01:23:47Z","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":2319,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-19T00:00:00Z"}},"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-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027"},{"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-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027"},{"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-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027"},{"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-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fk2-space-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027"}]}