Senior Mechanisms 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="{"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span></p>

<p><span data-contrast="auto">Partnering with Mechanisms Engineering team early  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 have the opportunity to make a positive impact scaling production to meet K2’s ever-growing demand. You will test out new techniques for manufacturing complex mechanisms such as rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, reaction wheel assemblies, among other electromechanical assemblies. In your first 6 months you will develop manufacturing methods and tooling for the mechanisms, define manufacturing flows for mechanisms subsystems, build test articles to support the Mechanisms Engineering team’s development and qualification test campaigns, and collaborate with them to provide Design-for-Excellence (DFX) guidance across mechanisms, machined components, and higher-level assemblies. In your first year you will own the implementation of these advanced manufacturing techniques on flight hardware, scale the technology you develop to high-rate production, and help mentor the engineers building the future of the team alongside you.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559738":240}"> </span></p>

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

<ul>

<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"●","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lead design-for-excellence (DFX) guidance to design teams </span><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">with the Mechanisms Engineering team</span><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">providing design guidance for mechanisms, machined components, and assemblies for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559738":240}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Lead the development of innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft mechanisms, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Create custom tools and processes to support the manufacturing technologies you create, including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </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="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Build test articles and support the Mechanisms Engineering team’s development and qualification test campaigns, iterating on hardware and processes as test results come in</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </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="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior manufacturing engineers and technicians on mechanisms manufacturing best practices</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </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="{"335559739":240}"> </span></li>

</ul>

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

<ul>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, aero</span><span data-contrast="auto">space, </span><span data-contrast="auto">or other relevant engineering discipline</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559738":240}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">6+ 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 </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="none">Demonstrated track record of leading product development and/or process improvement initiatives</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of mechanisms-specific industry standards such as NASA-STD-5017 (Design and Development Requirements for Mechanisms) and AIAA S-114 (Moving Mechanical Assemblies for Space and Launch Vehicles), as well as familiarity with the environmental qualification standards (SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000) the Mechanisms Engineering team designs against</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of how to set up and scale a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Deep understanding of mechanisms subassembly manufacturing technologies, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of DFX (design for manufacturability, testability, and assembly) principles, with the ability to guide design teams across mechanisms, machined components, and mechanical assemblies</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

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

</ul>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Nice to Have</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span></p>

<ul>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Familiarity with precision bearing standards (e.g., ABMA) and bearing preload techniques and measurement, as used in rotational actuators, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of tooling design for mechanisms and electromechanical subassemblies</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Some understanding of wire harness manufacturing and integration</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="none">Demonstrated ability to develop production processes from the ground up, including driving design improvements for manufacturing</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of technician workflows and build tooling, with a track record of working closely with production teams</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

<li><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing standards, including lubrication practices, torque specifications, and quality assurance standar