Materials & Process Engineer

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Responsible M&P engineer for satellite bus structures, mechanisms, thermal, electrical, and solar array systems
• Partner with engineers to define strategy and qualification philosophy for satellite materials
• Research, trade, and select conventional and novel materials and processes
• Define qualification criteria, test envelopes, and characterization campaigns for radiation, thermal, and mechanical environments
• Lead design reviews and drive development schedules
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define material-driven requirements and testing
• Lead failure analysis and root cause investigations for material anomalies
• Evaluate and manage material suppliers and supply chain risk
• Maintain M&P requirements, specifications, and engineering work standards

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 2+ years of experience in materials and process engineering
• Demonstrated depth in material selection, characterization, qualification, and production-scale process development
• Track record of material decisions validated through flight or high-reliability hardware programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field
• Experience architecting M&P programs for solar array systems
• Background in solar array material systems, interconnect metallurgy, and substrate architecture
• Deep understanding of adhesives, composites, thin films, and thermal interface materials
• Familiarity with AIAA, SMC, and NASA standards for solar modules and spacecraft charging
• Experience with radiation effects on solar materials (UV degradation, atomic oxygen erosion)
• Expertise in fracture mechanics, corrosion control, and failure analysis
• Proficiency with SEM, EDS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, or XRD
• Experience scaling processes from prototype to high-rate production
• Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data analysis

About the Company

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by leading investors, K2 is mass-producing high-power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space.