{"id":652504,"url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-solar-design-engineer","title":"Solar Design 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":208,"ghost_share":0.173,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":93,"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"}},"role":"Energy","role_family":"Energy","seniority":null,"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":100000,"max":140000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":140000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ANSYS","optional":true},{"name":"CATIA","optional":true},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Nastran","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-04-29T01:20:21Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-05-06","last_verified_at":"2026-10-26T10:41:09Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":180,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":180},"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 \nCritical 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. \nFirst 6 months: Support solar array subsystem development through analysis, component-level testing, and manufacturing process documentation. \nFirst year: Own specific build and test activities for flight hardware, from assembly through acceptance testing. \nFirst two years: Contribute to full lifecycle solar array development across multiple vehicle builds, developing expertise in both design and production. \nResponsibilities \nSupport the design and analysis of solar array electrical and mechanical subsystems \nAssist in the development and maintenance of electrical performance degradation models across environment variations \nExecute assembly-level acceptance and qualification test procedures and document results \nCollaborate with avionics, structures/mechanisms, software, and production teams on integration activities and test campaigns \nSupport design reviews with analysis products and test data \nContribute to manufacturing processes for in-house fabrication and assembly, including work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line testing \nParticipate in on-orbit data review and anomaly investigation efforts \nQualifications \nBachelor's degree in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field \nInternship in at least one of: photovoltaics, power systems, or materials characterization \nHands-on hardware experience through internships, research, design competitions, or extracurricular projects \nNice to Have \nInternship or research experience with solar arrays or power systems for space applications \nExposure to solar cell or module characterization techniques (IV curves, electroluminescence, flash testing) \nFamiliarity with structural analysis tools (Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent) or thermal analysis tools \nFamiliarity with space environment effects on materials, including radiation, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen \nExperience with CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks) and practical GD&T application \nExposure to manufacturing processes such as soldering, layup, or electromechanical assembly \nPython or MATLAB proficiency for data analysis \nIndependent and self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills \nCompensation and Benefits: \nBase salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,000 + equity in the company \nSalary and level 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":6018,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"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":17,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.46,"p_room":0.36,"age_days":180,"expected_fill_days":93,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":140000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-solar-design-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-solar-design-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-26T13:49:24Z","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":19085,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-27T00:00:00Z"}},"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-solar-design-engineer"},{"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-solar-design-engineer"},{"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-solar-design-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-solar-design-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fk2-space-solar-design-engineer"}]}