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Principal Electrical Manufacturing Engineer

K2 Space· Vehicle Operations
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Los Angeles, CA$175k - $200kfull-timePosted 4w ago

About the role

Senior manufacturing engineering leader responsible for ensuring manufacturability, leading DFx, developing and scaling production for high-power spacecraft electronics, and setting policy and standards across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and assemblies.

Responsibilities

  • Lead DFX reviews with design engineers across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and assemblies for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling
  • Lead the development of innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft electronics, including PCBA integration, wire harnessing, and electromechanical sub-assemblies
  • Set manufacturing policy, standards, and best practices for the Manufacturing Engineering organization, proactively identifying and mitigating manufacturability, process, and quality risks before they surface
  • Plan manufacturing strategy, tooling, and capacity investments ahead of future product designs and program roadmaps
  • Research and pilot new assembly methodologies and automation technologies, using data-driven analysis to optimize current production and inform manufacturing business decisions
  • Create custom tools, automation, and processes, including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software, to support the manufacturing technologies you create and streamline the work of the broader Manufacturing Engineering team
  • Demonstrate the advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes, working with the design teams to continuously improve the manufacturability of the designs
  • Develop the subassembly build flow and iterate to create an efficient production flow for the satellite and ensure that build times align with current takt times
  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior Manufacturing Engineers, technicians, and design peers on electronics manufacturing best practices
  • Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to lead R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical, electronics, mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
  • 10+ years of experience in a high volume, rapid production environment in a manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role with demonstrated excellence leading product development and process improvements
  • Strong understanding of IPC standards (e.g., IPC-A-610, IPC-A-600, J-STD-001) for PCB/PCBA workmanship and inspection
  • Strong understanding of how to set up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds and transitioning from low to high-rate manufacturing of wire harness manufacturing or PCBA/mechanical enclosure integration
  • Strong understanding of DFX principles, with the ability to guide design teams across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and mechanical assemblies
  • Strong understanding of GD&T and mechanical assembly drawings, with the ability to review and provide feedback on electrical and mechanical designs
  • Strong understanding of conformal coating and associated inspection/rework methods for PCBAs, per standards such as IPC-CC-830 and NASA-STD-8739.1
  • Demonstrated ability to set manufacturing policy and proactively identify and mitigate manufacturing risk across programs
  • Experience developing or deploying tools, automation, or software that scale the efficiency of a manufacturing engineering team
  • Deep understanding and experience with CAD software (NX or equivalent)
  • Strong understanding and experience working with MES, with the ability to set up the foundation for procedure creation, template generation and documentation of non-conformances
  • Demonstrated ability to independently develop production processes from the ground up, including driving design improvements for manufacturing

Skills

Required:DFX (Design for Excellence)PCB/PCBA manufacturingManufacturing policy and standards

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks
Last updated Sep 23, 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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