Vehicle Operations Engineering Intern – Summer 2027

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

We’re looking for a stellar Vehicle Operations Engineering Intern to join our team for a 3 month internship. You’ll join the team responsible for building, testing, and flying the vehicle, working with Design and Responsible Engineers to develop manufacturing methods, tooling, and build flows for spacecraft components, as well as support the integration and test of K2’s Mega class satellite systems. In this role you’ll gain hands-on experience developing and testing manufacturing techniques for large satellite structures, mechanisms, and integrated electronics; designing ground support equipment; expanding HITL tables; and executing test campaigns. This role offers broad exposure across subsystems, opportunities to improve manufacturability, efficiency, and reliability, and the chance to own impactful projects in K2’s highly collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

Support HITL table maintenance and operations

Develop test procedures used to confirm spacecraft hardware and software flightworthiness

Investigate and troubleshoot vehicle issues and driver further actions to reduce future failures

Design, build, and rollout ground support equipment to enable new test components and capabilities

Develop innovative manufacturing systems for large spacecraft assemblies, including welded/bolted structures, mechanisms, and electrical subassemblies

Create custom tools and processes that integrate with our Manufacturing Execution System to support the manufacturing technologies you create

Demonstrate the advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes, working with the design teams to iterate on the manufacturability of those parts

Develop the subassembly build flow and implementing on the production flow for the satellite

Get hands-on to build and integrate flight parts using your tooling

Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to perform R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products

Qualifications

Must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline

6+ months experience of technical engineering skills outside of the university setting classroom (eg: laboratory, research, extracurricular project teams, volunteering, personal projects or prior internship/work experience)

Additional Requirements

Available for a minimum 12-week internship in person at our HQ in Torrance

Nice to Have

Ability to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians , engineers, and managers

Experience testing and troubleshooting spacecraft and their related components and systems, including subsystem checkouts and system acceptance testing

Hands-on experience using electrical test equipment (PSU, Oscilloscope, DMM, etc.)

Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment

Experience or exposure in a test or automation role

Experience in Python and/or Rust

Experience with Linux systems

Experience setting up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds

Experience designing and implementing technologies for avionics subassembly manufacturing including wire harness manufacturing and PCBA/mechanical enclosure assembly

Experience designing tooling for mechanical subassemblies

Experience designing hardware for manufacturability

Experience with aerospace manufacturing standards such as torque specifications, welding standards, and quality assurance standards

Experience working in a high volume, rapid production environment

Experience working with MES to set up foundation for procedure creation and non conformance tracking

Compensation

Hourly pay range for this non-exempt role is $30 - $40 per hour

Hourly rate will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level

Housing and travel stipend may also be available

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.