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Optical Systems Engineer

K2 Space

Los Angeles, CA • 9/27/2026

Engineering , Healthcare , Professional

Job Description

Job 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.

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.

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.

The Role

K2's plandoesn'tstop at satellite buses, however. Byoperatingour own vehicles and manifesting regular rides to space, K2 is uniquely positioned to design, test, and deploy-at-scale ambitious optical payloads in MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space on unprecedented timelines. The satellite bus is the platform – the payloads are the mission.

There are any number of space-based optical payloads that can generate value here on Earth (ex. forest fire detection, climate and atmospheric monitoring, etc.) and further planetary science in our solar system (ex. hyper-spectral imaging, laser-altimetry) -- all of whichrequire payload-specific optics bencheswithspectral/ spatialfilters,beam-shaping optics,imagescanning /stabilization mechanisms,electro-opticalsensors,fiber-to-free space interfaces,etc.coupled tolarge aperture, diffraction-limited telescopes for collecting and transmitting optical energy from the UV to the infrared.

AsanOptical Systems Engineer, you willcontribute todefining how K2 designs, manufactures, tests, and deploysoptics benchesacrossK2's optical payload suite.You will be involvedin every phase of your optical system's life cycle,frominitialfeasibility and architectural trade studiesthroughmanufacturing,groundtesting, and on-orbit commissioning.The development timelines and manufacturing scale that we are targeting require meaningful innovation, butyou will have the resources and full support of K2 to make this possible and help raise the bar for the next generation of space technology companies.

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for delivering the...
  1. system architecture,SNRbudget, andsystem-specific modeling(ex. stray light, fiber coupling);
  2. detailedoptical designandtolerancing;
  3. development plan(risk reductiontimeline,division of labor,teststrategy);
  4. environmental qualification and reliability testing;
  5. technical leadership of vendors and external partners, includingcomponentqualification, supply-chain development, and transition to volume manufacturing; and
  6. laboratory characterization, system-level validation, mission readiness,andon-orbitcommissioning plan

ofoptical benches fora suite of high-volume optical payloadsoperatingin the UV/VIS/NIR/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR.

  • Collaborate with the optical and satellite bus teams to determine feasibility and optimal system requirements for optical payloads.
  • Prepare design reviews for your optical system to get stakeholder buy-in and communicate expectations to the hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams.
  • Forecast staffing needs, define roles, and interview candidates to ensure the optical payloads team is staffed appropriately to deliver on schedule.
  • Mentor the engineers supporting you to make them more capable and autonomous in the realm of optical system development in the future – scoping work, providing feedback throughout, and reviewing and signing off on the quality of their work.
  • Manufacturing is a major emphasis of this role. For any in-house fabrication and assembly,you'llbe responsible forthe evaluation andselectionof manufacturing equipment and working with the production team to develop a factory layout, work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests to ensure successful builds.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in physics, optics,computer science,mechanical engineering,electrical engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 8+ years of experience in the design, manufacture, and test ofopticalsystems.
  • Experience designing and deploying opticalsystemsat every phase of the product life cycle (requirements generation, design, analysis, tolerance,procure, build, align, test, deploy,operate).

Nice to Have

  • Familiarity withhigh-volume manufacturing– broad knowledge of manufacturing techniques, design formanufacturability,supply chain management, andproductionizationof assembly and test processes.
  • Experience withoptical mechanisms– specifying their requirements,knowledge offeedbackand actuationmethods,basic controlsanalysis, quantifying mechanismerror, and system-level testing.
  • Deep knowledge ofelectro-optical sensing technologies(ie. focal plane arrays,photodiodes, etc.)–their non-idealities,noise mechanisms,andmitigations,testing and characterization, andpractical implementation/systemintegration details.
  • Experience conducting experimental research,data analysis, andvisualizing esoteric datasets.
  • Understanding of the failure modes of electrical, mechanical, and optical systems in space environment.

Compensation and Benefits:

  • Base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $280,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limitedto:knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many otherperks

If 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!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As 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."

The 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 by22 C.F.R. 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 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.