Principal Mechanisms Manufacturing Engineer

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   Every rotational actuator, separation mechanism, gimbal, and reaction wheel that leaves your production line will fly on a satellite that has to work flawlessly the first time, with no one there to fix it once it's in orbit, and as a  Principal , the standards you set will shape how every one of those mechanisms gets built for years to come. Partnering with the Mechanisms Engineering team from day one, you will build the first prototype, design the build flow and fixturing, and carry these mechanisms, along with the electromechanical assemblies and machined components they integrate into, from initial concept through high-rate production. In your first 6 months,  you'll  build test articles supporting the team's development and qualification campaigns and provide the Design-for-Excellence (DFX) guidance that shapes how these mechanisms get built. Beyond your own programs, you will set manufacturing policy and standards, flag risk in upcoming designs before it becomes a problem, plan ahead for the manufacturability of future programs, and build the tools that make the rest of the Manufacturing Engineering team faster and more  effective.   Responsibilities   Lead DFX reviews with the Mechanisms Engineering team, providing manufacturability, testability, and assembly guidance across mechanisms, machined components, and assemblies for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling   Lead the development of innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft mechanisms, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies   Set manufacturing policy, standards, and best practices for the Manufacturing Engineering organization, proactively identifying and mitigating manufacturability, process, and quality risks before they surface   Plan manufacturing strategy, tooling, and capacity investments ahead of future mechanism designs and program roadmaps   Research and pilot new assembly methodologies and automation technologies, using data-driven analysis to optimize current production and inform manufacturing business decisions   Create custom tools, automation, and processes — including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software — to support the manufacturing technologies you create and streamline the work of the broader Manufacturing Engineering team    Demonstrate the advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes, working with the design teams to continuously improve the manufacturability of the designs   Build test articles and support the Mechanisms Engineering team’s development and qualification test campaigns, iterating on hardware and processes as test results come in   Develop the subassembly build flow and iterate to create an efficient production flow for the satellite  and ensure that build times align with current takt times   Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior manufacturing engineers, technicians, and design peers on mechanisms manufacturing best practices   Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to lead R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products   Qualifications   Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or other relevant engineering discipline   10+ years of experience in a  high volume, rapid production environment in a  manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role    Demonstrated track record of leading product development and/or process improvement initiatives   Strong understanding of mechanisms-specific industry standards such as NASA-STD-5017 (Design and Development Requirements for Mechanisms) and AIAA S-114 (Moving Mechanical Assemblies for Space and Launch Vehicles), as well as familiarity with the environmental qualification standards (SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000) the Mechanisms Engineering team designs against   Strong understanding of how to set up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds and transitioning from low to high-rate manufacturing   Deep understanding of mechanisms subassembly manufacturing technologies, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies   Strong understanding of design-for-excellence (DFX) principles, with the ability to guide design teams across mechanisms, machined components, and mechanical assemblies   Strong understanding of GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) and mechanical assembly drawings, with the ability to review and provide feedback on electrical and mechanical designs   Demonstrated ability to set manufacturing policy and proactiv