Optical Systems Engineer

About the 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 and an additional $500M in signed contracts, we’re mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space. K2’s plan extends beyond satellite buses: by operating our own vehicles and manifesting regular rides to space, we are uniquely positioned to design, test, and deploy-at-scale ambitious optical payloads in MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space on unprecedented timelines.

The Optical Systems Engineer will contribute to defining how K2 designs, manufactures, tests, and deploys optics benches across our optical payload suite. You will be involved in every phase of your optical system’s life cycle, from initial feasibility and architectural trade studies through manufacturing, ground testing, and on-orbit commissioning. The development timelines and manufacturing scale we are targeting require meaningful innovation, supported by the full resources of K2.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the system architecture, SNR budget, and system-specific modeling (e.g., stray light, fiber coupling); detailed optical design and tolerancing; development plan (risk reduction timeline, division of labor, test strategy); environmental qualification and reliability testing; technical leadership of vendors and external partners, including component qualification, supply-chain development, and transition to volume manufacturing; and laboratory characterization, system-level validation, mission readiness, and on-orbit commissioning plan for optical benches operating in 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 secure 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 appropriately staffed to deliver on schedule.
• Mentor supporting engineers to enhance their capabilities and autonomy in optical system development—scoping work, providing feedback, and reviewing and signing off on the quality of their work.
• For in-house fabrication and assembly, evaluate and select manufacturing equipment and work with the production team to develop factory layout, work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests to ensure successful builds.

Requirements

• 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 of optical systems.
• Experience designing and deploying optical systems at every phase of the product life cycle (requirements generation, design, analysis, tolerance, procure, build, align, test, deploy, operate).

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with high-volume manufacturing—broad knowledge of manufacturing techniques, design for manufacturability, supply chain management, and productionization of assembly and test processes.
• Experience with optical mechanisms—specifying their requirements, knowledge of feedback and actuation methods, basic controls analysis, quantifying mechanism error, and system-level testing.
• Deep knowledge of electro-optical sensing technologies (e.g., focal plane arrays, photodiodes)—their non-idealities, noise mechanisms, mitigations, testing and characterization, and practical implementation/system integration details.
• Experience conducting experimental research, data analysis, and visualizing esoteric datasets.
• Understanding of the failure modes of electrical, mechanical, and optical systems in the space environment.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks.

Pay

Base salary range for this role is $110,000 - $280,000 + equity in the company. Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level.

Export compliance: The person hired for this role must be a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license, as the role involves access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including ITAR.