Principal Crypto Engineer (TS//SCI)

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
As K2's Principal Crypto Engineer, reporting to the VP of Satellite Engineering & Operations, you will own the technical architecture and design of our Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment. You'll lead these designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, and test. You'll define how K2's satellites protect command, telemetry, and mission data at the hardware and software level, and build it to fit a high-volume satellite production line. You'll work hand-in-hand with our COMSEC Certification Lead on the National Security team, who owns the path to NSA approval. This is a foundational role: you'll set the cryptographic design standards the rest of the program builds against.
Responsibilities
Own the end-to-end technical architecture of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment
Lead crypto designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, and test
Design encryption, key management, and key loading implementations for command, telemetry, and mission data
Integrate cryptographic functions into flight software, avionics, FPGA, RF, and ground systems in partnership with those teams
Define hardware and software interfaces between crypto equipment and the broader system architecture
Produce the design documentation and test evidence needed to support certification, working closely with K2’s COMSEC Certification lead
Identify and mitigate cryptographic design risks across hardware, software, and RF boundaries
Establish reusable cryptographic designs, interfaces, and standards that scale across K2's production line
Support anomaly resolution and troubleshooting for fielded and on-orbit crypto systems
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related discipline
5+ years of engineering experience designing or integrating cryptographic systems or secure communications
Hands-on experience integrating NSA Type-1 cryptographic equipment into a hardware or software system
Working knowledge of key management and key loading implementations
Strong systems-level thinking, with the ability to reason from first principles across hardware, software, and RF boundaries
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup atmosphere with competing priorities and aggressive schedules
Nice to Have
Experience with spacecraft, satellite, or other space-system cryptographic integrations
Experience with embedded systems, FPGA design, or flight software
Familiarity with cryptographic modernization initiatives and current NSA-approved algorithms and equipment
Background in RF, link design, or secure command and telemetry systems
Exposure to NSA certification processes
Additional Requirements
Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance required; ability to obtain and maintain access to additional programs as needed
Ability to work irregular business hours to support critical project timelines or operations
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary range for this role is $160,000 - $245,000 + 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
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.
Export Compliance
As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”
The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.
Equal Opportunity
K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.