Avionics Systems/Test Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

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 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 Avionics Systems/Test Engineering Intern to join our team for a 3 month internship. Working closely with our engineers, you will be responsible for system design, analysis, testing and integration of avionics on some of the largest, most powerful, rapidly designed and manufactured satellites.

You will work hands-on with novel avionics interfacing, harnessing, instrumentation, RF components, and GNC actuators used across the satellite, while getting exposure to other subsystems within the engineering organization. K2 Space is a highly collaborative environment, and our interns will be encouraged to work with mentors and other team members to execute complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Responsible Engineer for avionics system design, performance, hardware, and test across the satellite bus
• Collaborate closely within the cross functional Engineering teams to capture requirements, lead design trades, build avionics test systems, and integrate flight hardware into the spacecraft
• Create and update technical documentation including system and test asset diagrams, schematics, interface control documents, procedures, and test/anomaly reports
• Design, build, and program automated test stands for avionics hardware
• Execute avionics component and system testing on flight hardware through development, acceptance, qualification, and integration testing
• Support spacecraft integration testing, production issue dispositions, troubleshooting failures, and managing overall spacecraft risk
• Design, develop and build avionics production infrastructure
• Write modular and reusable test, analysis, and automation software in Python and Rust
• Effectively manage and communicate project plan, milestones, and schedule execution

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree in electrical or computer engineering
• 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
• Hands-on experience with environmental testing for space electronics and harnessing such as thermal, thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, radiation, and EMI/EMC testing per SMC-S-016
• Competence with electrical test equipment (power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, etc.)
• Experience with high-voltage electrical systems
• Experience with NX or similar CAD software
• Experience in PCB schematic capture and board layout, ideally using Altium or similar software
• Experience with Linux, Bash, C++
• Experience with networking systems and associated testing tools: TCP/UDP, IP, VLANs, iperf, tcpdump
• Experience with vehicle level testing including writing test procedures, creating robust and efficient test sequencing, and analytical data review to evaluate hardware health

Compensation and Benefits

• 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!

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.