Solar Design Engineer

About the Role

K2 is developing the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown. As a Solar Engineer, you will contribute to the design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment of high-power solar arrays for some of the largest spacecraft ever flown. You will work across technical domains including module technology, electrical power systems, deployment mechanisms, structures, and production.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design and analysis of solar array electrical and mechanical subsystems.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of electrical performance degradation models across environment variations.
• Execute assembly-level acceptance and qualification test procedures and document results.
• Collaborate with avionics, structures/mechanisms, software, and production teams on integration activities and test campaigns.
• Support design reviews with analysis products and test data.
• Contribute to manufacturing processes for in-house fabrication and assembly, including work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line testing.
• Participate in on-orbit data review and anomaly investigation efforts.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor's degree in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field.
• Internship in at least one of: photovoltaics, power systems, or materials characterization.
• Hands-on hardware experience through internships, research, design competitions, or extracurricular projects.
• Must be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Nice to Have

• Internship or research experience with solar arrays or power systems for space applications.
• Exposure to solar cell or module characterization techniques (IV curves, electroluminescence, flash testing).
• Familiarity with structural analysis tools (Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent) or thermal analysis tools.
• Familiarity with space environment effects on materials, including radiation, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen.
• Experience with CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks) and practical GD&T application.
• Exposure to manufacturing processes such as soldering, layup, or electromechanical assembly.
• Python or MATLAB proficiency for data analysis.
• Independent and self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.