Principal Launch Mission Manager

TL;DR

Principal Launch Mission Manager (Aerospace): Hands-on support for payload, vehicle, and launch integration certification, verification, and execution actions with an accent on range safety compliance, launch provider/payload provider certification forums, and ensuring no certification/verification/execution show-stoppers. Focus on shaping and accelerating the end-to-end certification process across multiple threads, coordinating with engineering reliability, program managers, legal licensing/insurance closure, and optimizing future missions using lessons learned from integrated spacecraft testing.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Salary: $175,000 - $200,000 + equity

Company

K2 Space builds high-power satellites for missions from LEO to deep space.

What you will do

• Act as the point of contact for certification, including range safety compliance, launch vehicle user guide compliance, ground operations plan, payload certification plan, customer-to-launch-provider interactions, and qualification reports.
• Serve as the launch provider point of contact to ensure launch vehicle ICDs are closed and verified and that launch operations plans are robust for flawless mission execution.
• Serve as the payload provider point of contact in certification forums to ensure payload requirements are met for both K2 and the launch provider.
• Support payload integration readiness reviews, pre-ship reviews, and launch/flight readiness reviews.
• Review and help shape future customer and launch vehicle contracts and SOWs.
• Shape K2’s certification process by introducing new methods to increase certification velocity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or science.
• 8+ years of experience in technical aerospace or manufacturing.
• 2+ years of experience managing projects, technical trades, and/or technical teams.
• Exceptional understanding of launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems and their certification and/or verification processes.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree or PhD in an engineering or science discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in technical aerospace or manufacturing.
• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience leading spacecraft qualification, verification, or certification efforts for single or constellation-level projects.
• Experience working with payload or launch provider contracts and SOWs.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Culture & Benefits

• Base salary range of $175,000 - $200,000 plus equity.
• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, and paid parental leave.
• Opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment on a Series C space startup.
• Encouragement to apply even if not all preferred skills are met.

Hiring process

• Application and interview process for employment and interview accommodations if needed.
• Export compliance eligibility review based on ITAR “U.S. Person” definition or eligibility for a federally issued export control license.