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Principal Dynamics Engineer

K2 Space· Dynamics
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Los Angeles, CA$190k - $235kfull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Technical leader responsible for deriving loads and environments for K2 Space satellites across ground transportation, launch, deployment, and on-orbit operation; develops simulation tools and workflows, correlates physics models with measured data, and mentors engineers to enable reliable, mass-producible spacecraft.

Responsibilities

  • Drive the definition and execution of dynamic testing at the component, subsystem, vehicle, and stack level, including test planning and coordination, test analysis, and model correlation
  • Lead innovation on cross-disciplinary analysis and test methodologies
  • Own and evolve spacecraft dynamics approaches to optimize for the company’s business
  • Develop time- and frequency-domain physics models using finite element analysis (e.g., Nastran) and custom-built software (e.g., Python), and set technical direction for shared analysis tooling, including version control and continuous-integration practices for analysis and test-data pipelines
  • Create software tools to support data processing and simulation frameworks
  • Collaborate with design engineers, analysts, and external customers to develop payload products
  • Apply first principles in developing frameworks for both dynamics and non-dynamics analyses
  • Lead code reviews for simulation and analysis tools
  • Utilize analysis and test to provide data-driven engineering guidance and decisions
  • Write high quality technical documentation of tests and simulations
  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level dynamics engineers, contributing to the growth of the analysis team
  • Derive loads, environments, and other dynamics-driven design and test criteria for payload and hardware teams, including vibration, shock, and jitter maximum predicted environments and response-limit derivation (e.g., NASA 7004C), and develop new response-limiting methodologies as needed
  • Own coupled loads analysis (CLA) for vehicle programs, including bus-and-payload superelement/Craig-Bampton model builds for ascent and on-orbit dynamic environments, through test-level definition
  • Lead jitter and pointing performance analysis, including Monte Carlo dispersion modeling and dynamic coupling with GNC control loops
  • Direct vibroacoustic analysis, including patch-method framework development, and lead acoustic testing of the vehicle
  • Drive definition of vehicle- and stack-level modal test and analysis methodologies, including ground and flight test correlation

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, or mathematics
  • 8+ years of work experience in dynamics from industry or academia

Skills

Required:Dynamic testing and analysisCross-disciplinary analysis and testing methodologiesSpacecraft dynamics modelingSoftware tooling and CIData processing and simulation toolingCollaboration with design engineers and customersFirst principles analysisMentorship

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks
Last updated Sep 2, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About K2 Space

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Building the largest satellites in orbit. Ultra-powerful, scalable platforms engineered for LEO–cislunar missions. Explore the next-generation of satellites.

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