Senior Power Electronics 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 some of the highest power systems ever flown in space. You will be able to develop a broad range of power electronics devices ranging from power switching to power conversion components capable of operating in the harshest space environments. In your first 6 months you will prototype your first high power devices and execute environmental and performance testing to refine your designs. In your first year you will qualify your hardware for flight and begin designing even more capable devices for future generations of spacecraft. In your first two years you will have flown your power devices in space and developed novel designs across all power domains.
Responsibilities
- Develop power electronics for large spacecraft with power systems ranging from 20kW to 100kW capability
- Serve as Responsible Engineer for flight hardware from conception through flight
- Qualify your designs through environmental testing including vibration, shock, thermal, and thermal vacuum testing
- Work with partners/customers to define interfaces between the power system and various spacecraft loads
- Develop models to analyze and verify power system performance
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering
- 5+ years of professional design experience with power electronics (research and extracurricular academic projects qualify)
Nice to Have
- Proficient with circuit simulation tools such as LTspice
- Experience with environmental testing for space electronics such as thermal testing, vibration testing, TVAC testing, shock testing, radiation testing, and EMI/EMC testing
- Experience with high performance kW scale isolated power converter design
- Experience with load switch design and power path protection schemes
- Experience with power stage component selection for use in radiation environments
- Knowledge of filter design for stability, noise rejection, and surviving threat signals
- Experience programming in C/C++, Python, or Matlab
Compensation and Benefits:
- Base salary range for this role is $160,000 - $210,000 + 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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