Manager, Ground Test

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 $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'll oversee all powered up operations of the vehicle from first power up through liftoff at the launch site. In this role, you'll shape the test architecture that ensures every vehicle is ready for flight. You'll define how we validate our hardware, why tests exist, and when they should occur. You'll also build the training, tools, and processes that empower technicians to execute with confidence and accelerate the production machine.

A core part of your charter is to scale through automation. Design yourself and team out of repetitive work by creating systems that are faster, smarter, and more reliable than manual intervention. You'll drive the strategy and rollout of automation across the test lifecycle and unlock the throughput to hit ambitious production targets.

Beyond integrated test campaigns, you'll influence HITL development, strengthen alignment with Mission Operations, and equip future engineers with the vehicle context they need. This is a role for someone who wants to build a team, build the system, and ultimately build the engine that elevates the entire program.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a world-class test team – hire, mentor, and develop experts in test engineering, automation, and integration
• Define the ground test architecture and continuously refine what we test, why it matters, and when tests are executed
• Own all powered-up activities of the satellite from first activation through launch-day activities at the pad
• Establish operational standards and best practices that enable high-rate production and consistent flight readiness
• Provide vehicle context and mentorship to future engineering waves and mission operators
• Monitor test performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement continuous improvements that elevate team and system effectiveness
• Partner with software teams to influence operator tools and improve the vehicle behavior through suggesting software changes
• Own HITL table design and supporting infrastructure that will scale with operational demands
• Drive overhead associated with payload integration, testing, and HITL configurations to near-zero through automation and streamlined processes

Qualifications

Nice to Have

Compensation and Benefits :

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.