Principal Electrical Manufacturing Engineer

<div class="content-intro"><p data-renderer-start-pos="41">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.</p>

<p data-renderer-start-pos="570">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.</p>

<p data-renderer-start-pos="994">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.</p></div><p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">The Role</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240,"335559740":276}"> </span></p>

<p><span data-contrast="auto">Partnering with design engineers early on in the process, you will ensure manufacturability, build the first prototype, design the build flow and fixturing, and finalize the process for transition to production. Once transitioned, you will own the effort to scale production and meet K2's ever-growing demand. You will pioneer new techniques for manufacturing complex PCBAs, harnessing, and integrated electronics systems, and set the direction for how mechanical teams approach the electromechanical assemblies and machined components these electronics integrate into. In your first 6 months you will develop manufacturing methods and tooling for integrated avionics systems, define manufacturing flows for electronic subsystems, and lead Design-for-Excellence (DFX) guidance across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and higher-level assemblies. As a Principal on the team, you will also set manufacturing policy and standards, proactively flag risk in upcoming designs before it becomes a problem, plan ahead for the manufacturability of future programs, and build tools that make the rest of the Manufacturing Engineering team faster and more effective.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240,"335559740":276}"> </span></p>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Responsibilities</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240,"335559740":276}"> </span></p>

<ul>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Lead DFX reviews with design engineers across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and assemblies for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Lead the development of innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft electronics, including PCBA integration, wire harnessing, and electromechanical sub-assemblies</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Set manufacturing policy, standards, and best practices for the Manufacturing Engineering organization, proactively identifying and mitigating manufacturability, process, and quality risks before they surface</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Plan manufacturing strategy, tooling, and capacity investments ahead of future product designs and program roadmaps</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Research and pilot new assembly methodologies and automation technologies, using data-driven analysis to optimize current production and inform manufacturing business decisions</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Create custom tools, automation, and processes, including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software, to support the manufacturing technologies you create and streamline the work of the broader Manufacturing Engineering team </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Demonstrate the advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes, working with the design teams to continuously improve the manufacturability of the designs</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Develop the subassembly build flow and iterate to create an efficient production flow for the satellite</span><span data-contrast="auto"> and ensure that build times align with current takt times</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior Manufacturing Engineers, technicians, and design peers on electronics manufacturing best practices</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to lead R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

</ul>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Qualifications</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240,"335559740":276}"> </span></p>

<ul>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Bachelor’s degree in electrical, electronics, mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">10+ years of experience in a </span><span data-contrast="none">high volume, rapid production environment in a</span><span data-contrast="auto"> manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role with demonstrated excellence leading product development and process improvements.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of IPC standards (e.g., IPC-A-610, IPC-A-600, J-STD-001) for PCB/PCBA workmanship and inspection</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of how to set up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds and transitioning from low to high-rate manufacturing of wire harness manufacturing or PCBA/mechanical enclosure integration.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of DFX</span><span data-contrast="auto">)</span><span data-contrast="auto"> principles, with the ability to guide design teams across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and mechanical assemblies</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of GD&T</span><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-contrast="auto"> and mechanical assembly drawings, with the ability to review and provide feedback on electrical and mechanical designs</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of conformal coating and associated inspection/rework methods for PCBAs, per standards such as IPC-CC-830 and NASA-STD-8739.1</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Demonstrated ability to set manufacturing policy and proactively identify and mitigate manufacturing risk across programs</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Experience developing or deploying tools, automation, or software that scale the efficiency of a manufacturing engineering team</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="none">Deep understanding and experience with CAD software (NX or equivalent)</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740&am