COMSEC Certification Lead (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 COMSEC Certification Lead, reporting to the VP of National Security, you will own the path to NSA certification and accreditation for our Type-1 cryptographic systems across the spacecraft and ground segment. You'll be K2's primary interface to NSA, certification authorities, and government customers. You'll drive the certification effort from requirements through approval to operate, and you'll build the COMSEC processes that carry our fleet into on-orbit operations. You'll work hand-in-hand with our Principal Crypto Engineer on the Satellite Engineering team, translating NSA requirements into engineering tasks and making sure the design meets the bar for national-security missions. This is a foundational role: you'll build the certification playbook K2 scales across every satellite we produce.
Responsibilities
Serve as K2's primary interface to NSA, certification authorities, and government customers on cryptographic certification and accreditation
Own the certification and accreditation effort end to end, including planning, schedule, and delivery of artifacts, test evidence, and documentation
Translate NSA and customer security requirements into clear, actionable requirements for engineering teams
Achieve and maintain approval to operate across K2's spacecraft and ground systems
Establish and manage COMSEC handling, accounting, and key management planning
Develop operational procedures for COMSEC on on-orbit fleet operations
Identify and mitigate supply-chain compliance risks across design and production
Build repeatable certification processes that scale across K2's satellite production line
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline
5+ years of experience in COMSEC, information assurance, or cryptographic certification
Direct experience taking a system through NSA Type-1 certification and accreditation to operational use
Working knowledge of COMSEC handling, accounting, and key management requirements
Proven ability to manage relationships with NSA, government customers, and certification authorities
Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage complex documentation and schedules
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup atmosphere with competing priorities and aggressive schedules
Nice to Have
Experience certifying spacecraft, satellite, or other space-system cryptographic integrations
Experience with RMF/ATO, JSIG, or other accreditation frameworks
Experience as a COMSEC Custodian or managing a COMSEC account