Beam Planning Software Engineer
About this role
K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M 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 planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become 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 groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply.
The Role
You will be responsible for designing and optimizing the planning systems that drive how some of the largest satellites ever flown deliver value across a range of missions, including communications and sensing. You will develop the tools and production infrastructure that address hard questions about on-orbit performance: link feasibility, resource allocation, and how a constellation can serve complex, competing demands at scale. Alongside this, you will simulate and verify the software used to fly and orchestrate these spacecraft, and, where needed, step into different parts of the stack to drive solutions end-to-end.
In your first 6 months you will build simulation and planning infrastructure that models beam coverage, interference, and capacity across multiple spacecraft, enabling rigorous analysis of real mission scenarios and informing critical business and engineering decisions. In your first year you will integrate these planning tools into production infrastructure controlling real vehicles.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement sensing and communication beam (RF/laser) planning algorithms that optimize for coverage, capacity, and other objectives across entire satellite constellations.
- Develop physics-based models of spacecraft communications systems, including antenna patterns, link budgets, and mechanical constraints.
- Perform analyses of constellation capabilities and network performance to support business and engineering decisions, including coverage gaps, capacity planning, and demand modeling.
- Create and maintain simulation software infrastructure for our 20kW+ spacecraft.
- Develop software models of spacecraft subsystems like propulsion and attitude control as needed to support integrated analysis.
- Create robust tooling for rapid deployment of quality code.
- Perform data analysis and anomaly investigation to identify and resolve on-orbit problems.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in physics, aerospace/mechanical/electrical engineering, computer science, math, or a STEM field, or 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering or a relevant field
- Development experience in Rust, C++, or similar compiled language
- Experience using scientific Python (NumPy, SciPy, etc.), Julia, MATLAB, or similar
Nice to Have
- 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering
- Master's or PhD in physics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, operations research, or a STEM field
- Experience with optimization algorithms, graph theory, and/or scheduling systems
- Experience with space communication modeling: RF propagation, link budgets, interference, ground station networks
- Experience with Monte Carlo simulations and probability/statistics
- Experience with spacecraft modeling and orbital mechanics
- Experience defining and creating simulation systems
- Experience working in Rust production environments
- Experience with continuous integration and continuous delivery systems
Compensation and Benefits:
- Base salary range for this role is $123,000 - $200,000 + equity in the company
- Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: 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 other perks
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 by 22 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.
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