K2 Space

space

PrincipalSecurityEngineer,Operations

$155–185k Los Angeles, California, United States Remote Friendly
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Principal candidates.

The Brief

“Principal Security Engineer, Operations at K2 Space. Skills: security architecture, identity and access management, endpoint security, network security, SaaS platforms, cloud services, zero trust security principles. architect the security foundations that protect our people, systems, and data. architect and govern security controls across corporate IT environments”

What You'll Achieve.

enabling the rapid development and operation of high-powered satellites; building security into the fabric of the company; enable scale without friction; improving visibility, response time, and operational efficiency; raising the organization’s security engineering maturity and technical bar

Industry & Context.

space
Problems you'll solve

problem-solving skills; root-cause analysis

Eligibility Requirements

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

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

8+ years of experience in security operations or engineering roles, 3+ years of development experience with any modern programming language (including but not limited to Python, C++, Rust, Go), Knowledge of operating systems, current equipment and technologies, networking, security best practices, and system performance monitoring tools, Comfortable working with mission critical and sensitive systems, with a sense of urgency appropriate with responsibilities, Excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills

Nice to Have

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in computer science or engineering, Technical certifications (i. e. , Network+, MCSE, Security+)

What You'll Do.

architect the security foundations that protect our people

architect and govern security controls across corporate IT environments

establish and own enterprise security standards

reference architectures

lead the design and implementation of zero trust security principles across corporate operations

act as the final technical escalation point for complex or high-impact security incidents

partner closely with IT

and infrastructure teams to embed security into systems design

operational processes

and automation workflows

and govern security technologies and drive strategic adoption

and deprecation decisions

design and oversee security automation and detection capabilities

ensure corporate systems meet regulatory

and contractual security requirements

mentor senior and staff-level security and IT engineers

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

partner closely with IT, network, and infrastructure teams; represent corporate security engineering in cross-functional architecture reviews, audits, and enterprise technology planning forums

Communication Scope

influence executive leadership through clear risk assessments, threat modeling, and trade-off analysis tied to business impact and mission outcomes

Full Job Description

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M 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 planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become 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 groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply. The Role You will play a defining role in how K2 Space secures and scales its corporate operations. You’ll architect the security foundations that protect our people, systems, and data while enabling the rapid development and operation of high-powered satellites. This role is about building security into the fabric of the company – across identity, endpoints, networks, and cloud platforms—so teams can move quickly and confidently. As K2 Space grows from early missions to sustained operations, your work will directly enable scale without friction. The security architecture and standards you establish will shape how the company operates and protects its most ambitious work for years to come. Responsibilities

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