Software Engineer Los Angeles, Ca

K2 is building the largest and highest‑power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors such as Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and U.S. 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. 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 planned through 2026 and 2027, we’re “Building Bigger” to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. The Role The software team at K2 builds our stack primarily in Rust because we believe modern programming languages should be fun and correct. We see Rust as a key enabling technology that allows us to be more effective as software engineers across the entire stack – from GNC algorithms and flight‑computer application software to embedded software on microcontrollers and many other domains. As part of the team you will develop and verify the software that flies some of the largest spacecraft ever flown. You will write mission‑critical code that controls propulsion systems, attitude control systems, and power systems to ensure safe and reliable operation of the vehicle. In your first 6 months you will develop core pieces of the software architecture, including strategies for fault tolerance, real‑time control, and telemetry downlink. In your first year you will implement larger systems and begin verifying your code using software and hardware‑in‑the‑loop simulators. In your first two years you will operate your code on multiple spacecraft, demonstrating robust performance in demanding missions. Responsibilities Create software architecture for real‑time, fault‑tolerant control of a 20kW+ spacecraft Develop software applications for control of spacecraft subsystems, including propulsion, guidance/attitude control, thermal, power, and communications systems Design and implement state machines for robust operation of the spacecraft Author drivers for microcontroller peripherals and external sensors Create and utilize robust tools to enable rapid deployment of quality code Perform data analysis and anomaly investigation to identify and resolve software bugs Support integration and testing of the spacecraft subsystems Build and maintain infrastructure to increase reliability when developing and testing software Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a STEM discipline, or 3+ years of professional software engineering experience Experience developing in Rust Nice to Have Spacecraft flight software development experience Fluency with Linux systems programming and driver development Experience with continuous integration and continuous delivery systems Experience with hard real‑time embedded systems (bare‑metal or RTOS) Experience authoring no_std systems in Rust Basic knowledge of electronics, computer architecture, and control systems Experience developing or working with state machines Experience with software verification and testing methods Experience with software and network performance analysis and debugging Experience working in Rust production environments Experience with fault‑tolerant software design and implementation Experience defining and creating test systems for both hardware‑in‑the-loop and hardware‑out‑of‑the-loop Compensation and Benefits Base salary range: $123,000 – $160,000 + equity in the company Salary determined by knowledge, skills, education, and experience 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. We welcome applicants who can work onsite in Torrance, California, while also supporting remote work with an expectation of one week per month onsite. To comply with U.S. export control regulations, please note that the person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations. The role requires the individual to be a U.S. person or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license. K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications, and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status. If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know. #J-18808-Ljbffr