Bachelor's degree in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field
Internship in photovoltaics, power systems, semiconductor equipment, or automation
Hands-on hardware experience through internships, research, design competitions, or extracurricular projects
Responsibilities
Collaborate with facilities and process engineers to install, qualify, maintain, and improve solar array manufacturing equipment
Own equipment reliability and uptime; design, execute, and analyze experiments to enhance tool performance
Develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance strategies and spare parts programs
Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions for equipment issues
Work with vendors and internal automation teams on equipment design improvements and upgrades
Establish equipment performance metrics and implement statistical process control
Support factory health reporting through clear documentation of equipment performance
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, and life insurance
Paid parental leave
Equity in the company
Encouragement for non-traditional career paths and diverse experiences
Full Job Description
The Role
Critical to achieving K2's vision of deploying at scale across MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space are the solar arrays. As a Solar Equipment Engineer, you will own automated equipment critical to the ability to manufacture and test massive solar arrays at rate. You'll work closely with process and manufacturing engineers ensuring consistent equipment performance, reliability, and uptime. Within this role you will be responsible for coordinating and executing the installation, qualification, and sustaining the mechanical and electrical systems of our solar manufacturing equipment.
Responsibilities
Collaborate with the facilities and process engineers to install, qualify, maintain, and continually improve solar array manufacturing equipment
Own equipment reliability and uptime; design, execute, and analyze experiments to improve within tool process variance, tool to tool performance variance, and defect performance
Develop and execute robust preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, spare parts programs, and tool matching protocols
Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions within your equipment
Work with vendors and our internal automation team on equipment design improvements, upgrades, and custom solutions
Establish equipment performance metrics (OEE, MTBF, MTTR) and implement statistical process control for hardware stability
Support reporting out on factory health to process engineers and company leadership through clear documentation of equipment performance and impact on downstream process
Qualifications
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, semiconductor equipment, or automation
Hands-on hardware experience through internships, research, design competitions, or extracurricular projects
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)
Experience with automated equipment or subsystems such as robotics, motion control, vision systems, conveyors, or pneumatics
Familiarity with PLCs, sensors, or instrumentation, or with troubleshooting electromechanical systems
Exposure to manufacturing processes such as soldering, bonding, layup, or electromechanical assembly
Coursework or project experience in reliability engineering, failure analysis, or root cause methods (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone, 8D)
Familiarity with statistical analysis or SPC, using Python, MATLAB, JMP, or Minitab
Experience working in cleanroom or controlled manufacturing environments, or safely handling adhesives, solvents, or other hazardous materials
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
Independent and self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
Compensation and Benefits:
Base salary range for this role is $110,000 - $160,000 + equity in the company
Salary and level 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!
If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.
