Ground Integration Lead, Top Secret Clearance

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

K2 Space operates constellations spanning commercial, science, and national security missions using a mix of in-house and legacy ground systems. In this role, you will be a key part of the team in charge of integrating all of these systems into a cohesive, reliable ground network.

The ground systems you and your team build will be capable of bridging the gap between heterogeneous constellations in space and the RF and Optical ground segment that controls them. You will be key in a multi-pronged strategy to invest in K2 ground infrastructure while also engaging with partners to integrate with legacy and 3rd party ground systems.

You'll lead a growing organization of engineers, set the technical roadmap, and ensure we're delivering ground infrastructure that moves as fast as our hardware. You and your team will collaborate closely with the Ground Software Applications and Flight Software teams to drive new integrations that unlock new mission capabilities for our customers in the classified and unclassified domains.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long-term vision for K2 Space's end to end ground systems integration
• Direct and technically lead investment in new in-house ground infrastructure while managing and building relationships with third party mission partners
• Integrate with customer teams to architect new ground systems capable of operating at multiple levels of classification while delivering secure and reliable constellation operations
• Build and support a team of capable and experienced ground integration engineers responsible for building the connective tissue between new and legacy ground systems
• Ensure teams deliver robust, scalable, and secure systems at startup speed
• Represent K2 Space in recruiting, industry events, customer interactions, and strategic partnerships

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, mathematics or a STEM discipline or 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering
• 8+ years of experience in software development
• 3+ years of leadership experience at the department or org level
• Experience with the deployment and integration of sophisticated hardware and software systems
• Proven success building and scaling high-impact engineering teams
• Strong track record of delivering enterprise-scale solutions in fast-paced environments
• Deep experience with classified systems and their security requirements

Nice to Have

• Experience in aerospace, manufacturing, or mission-critical systems
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Python, C#.NET, Go, Java, or similar
• Familiarity with modern languages (Python, Go, Java, C#, etc.), cloud systems, CI/CD, and container orchestration (Docker/Kubernetes).
• A track record of fostering team culture, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Understanding of existing systems architectures that support ground and orbital systems contributing to government and commercial space systems

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $200,000 - $250,000 + equity in the company
• Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

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.