Mission Operations Engineering Intern – Summer 2027

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.
The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.
With multiple launches in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.
The Role
We're looking for a stellar Mission Operations Engineering Intern to join our team for a 3-month internship. You'll join the Mission Ops Engineering team to be hands-on with real spacecraft – executing integrated test campaigns, mastering the satellite bus, and working with world-class RE teams to validate system health and fly on-orbit satellites.
Responsibilities
Support test procedures (manual and automated) used to confirm spacecraft hardware and software flight worthiness
Take part in high-visibility integration campaigns for development and flight hardware
Operate spacecraft (interpret telemetry, send commands) during system tests at the factory, test facilities, launch sites, and during pre-launch operations and space operations
Identify and elevate off-nominal conditions during test, and drive issues to resolution by engaging with the wider engineering team
Clearly communicate status, needs, and risks to the entire K2 Space team (and payload providers) during high-intensity operations
Assess risks associated with different integration, test, and flight approaches, and clearly communicate mitigations and trade-offs
Qualifications
Must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
6+ months experience of technical engineering skills outside of the university setting classroom (eg: laboratory, research, extracurricular project teams, volunteering, personal projects or prior internship/work experience)
Additional Requirements
Available for a minimum 12-week internship in person at our HQ in Torrance
Nice to Have
Ability to work well in an integrated collaborative team env