Optical Manufacturing Engineer

The Role

K2's plan doesn't stop at the satellite bus. By operating our own vehicles and manifesting regular rides to space, K2 is positioned to design, test, and deploy ambitious optical payloads at scale — built around large aperture (100–300 mm), diffraction-limited, space-qualified telescopes collecting and transmitting optical energy from the UV to the infrared, for missions in MEO, GEO, cis-lunar space, and beyond. The bus is the platform; the payloads are the mission.

As an Optical Manufacturing Engineer, you will be the bridge between optical design and the production floor. Partnering with the Principal Optomechanical Engineer and the optical payloads team early in the design process, you will ensure manufacturability, build the first prototypes, design the build flow, fixturing, and alignment tooling, and finalize the process for transition to production. You will work hand-in-hand with the optical technicians who build and test the hardware, turning design intent into clear work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests. In your first 6 months you will develop cleaning, bonding, mounting, and alignment methods and tooling for optical subassemblies, define manufacturing flows for optical payload hardware, and provide Design-for-Excellence (DFX) guidance on optics, optomechanical mounts, and integrated electro-optical assemblies. In your first year you will implement these processes on flight hardware and scale them to high-rate production.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Principal Optomechanical Engineer and optical design team to provide DFX guidance across optics, optomechanical mounts, bonded assemblies, and integrated electro-optical hardware for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling

Develop manufacturing and assembly processes for space-qualified optical subsystems and large aperture telescopes, including precision inspection and cleaning, adhesive bonding and UV/thermal cure, mounting and torque, and alignment of freespace optics and fiber optic assemblies

Design alignment fixtures, bonding and handling tooling, and ground support equipment (GSE) that protect sensitive optics while achieving required tolerances and repeatability

Support the evaluation and selection of optical fabrication, assembly, and metrology equipment, and help develop the factory and cleanroom layout for in-house optics production

Develop in-process inspections, optical metrology, and end-of-line test methods (e.g., interferometry, autocollimation, wavefront and alignment verification), ensuring accuracy and data traceability across all builds

Create and maintain work instructions, travelers, and procedures in the Manufacturing Execution System (MES); lead root cause analysis and corrective action for nonconformances on optical builds

Support integration of optical assemblies with their electromechanical interfaces, including harnessing, sensor electronics, thermal management hardware, and machined structures

Develop the subassembly build flow and iterate to create an efficient production flow, ensuring build times align with current takt times as production scales

Support environmental acceptance and qualification test campaigns (e.g., thermal vacuum, vibration, thermal cycling) on optical assemblies from a build and test-readiness standpoint

Partner with a team of optical manufacturing engineers to perform R&D of novel optics manufacturing and alignment technologies for current and future payloads

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, optical mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline

3+ years of experience in a high volume, rapid production environment in a manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role

Demonstrated results with product development and/or process improvements

Experience setting up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds

Experience designing and implementing technologies for avionics subassembly manufacturing including wire harness manufacturing and PCBA/mechanical enclosure assembly

Experience providing DFX guidance on optomechanical designs, with the ability to read and review mechanical and optical drawings, including GD&T and optical tolerance callouts

Familiarity with optical metrology equipment such as interferometers, autocollimators, theodolites, laser trackers, and power meters

Experience working with FOD, ESD-sensitive hardware, cleanroom requirements, and optical cleaning methods and solvents

Familiarity with industry standards governing optical components and assemblies, including optical specification (ISO 10110, MIL-PRF-13830), interferometric measurement (ISO 14999), optical coatings (ISO 9211, MIL-C-48497), contamination control and cleanrooms (ISO 14644, IEST-STD-CC1246), materials outgassing (ASTM E595), adhesive bonding and staking (NASA-STD-8739.1), fiber optic terminations and cable assemblies (NASA-STD-8739.5), ESD control (ANSI/ESD S20.20), and laser safety (ANSI Z136.1, IEC 60825-1)

Nice to Have

Proficiency with CAD software (NX or equivalent), and familiarity with optical design and analysis tools (e.g., Zemax, Ansys) and STOP analysis outputs

Experience working with MES to set up the foundation for procedure creation and documenting non-conformances

Deep working knowledge of the optical, contamination control, materials, and workmanship standards listed above, plus environmental test standards such as GSFC-STD-7000 (GEVS) and SMC-S-016, with the ability to flow them down into drawings, procedures, and supplier requirements

Experience with high-volume optics manufacturing and test (tens to 1,000+ units)

Experience with optical fabrication techniques such as single-point diamond turning, and with reflective telescope architectures including off-axis, three-mirror anastigmat, and freeform designs

Experience conducting environmental acceptance and qualification test campaigns on optical assemblies

Experience with wavefront optimization through alignment, including computer-aided alignment methods

Experience with optical fiber handling and processing, including splicing, cleaving, polishing, and polarization-maintaining components

Experience modifying and qualifying COTS optics and assemblies for extreme environments

Experience selecting and processing space-grade adhesives and low-outgassing materials for optical bonding and staking

Experience with integrated electro-optical assemblies, including harnessing and PCBA/enclosure assembly, and familiarity with IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards

Experience working with technicians and designing tooling for precision mechanical subassemblies and electronics

Demonstrated experience developing production processes from the ground up, including driving design improvements for manufacturing

Experience working with MES to set up the foundation for procedure creation and documenting non-conformances

Ability to develop or troubleshoot production test code in Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $100,000 – $140,000 + equity in the company

Salary 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