Principal Automation & Controls Engineer

The role

You will concept, develop, and roll out automation projects to support a vertically integrated production system. You will shape how the company approaches automation by setting standards, requirements, and design processes.

What you will do

• Own the company roadmap of production automation across hardware and control layers
• Conceive, design, and develop production tooling electromechanical automation assemblies
• Own hands-on buildout, activation, and qualification of automation and controls projects
• Shape and implement HMI strategy and PLC automation
• Implement strategies to increase production takt rate and first pass yield
• Mentor and develop junior engineers

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aero space, materials or other relevant engineering discipline
• 4+ years of experience in a high-volume manufacturing, production, or hands-on engineering environment
• 6+ years of experience working in industrial automation and controls in a production environment, including full-stack ownership
• Strong hands-on aptitude and willingness to work directly with hardware on the production floor
• In-depth knowledge of precision assembly and electromechanical fabrication processes
• Ability to generate and review engineering drawings, schematics, and technical documentation
• Experience setting up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds through at rate production

Nice to have

• Full-stack and state of the art experience with industrial automation hardware & controls, PLC/HMI/Robotics software control stacks, electrical and fluid schematics
• Exposure to space, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Experience designing automation systems for manufacturability
• Demonstrated experience developing production processes from the ground up including driving design improvements for manufacturing
• Experience working closely with technicians and build tooling
• Familiarity with CAD software (NX or equivalent) and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Medical/dental/vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Many other perks

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license

About the company

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown for missions from LEO to deep space. The company is mass-producing high-power satellite platforms and is a high-growth Series D-funded company.