Principal Crypto Engineer (TS//SCI)

About the company

K2 Space is a manufacturer of large, high-power satellites.

About this role

<div class="content-intro"><p class="p1">K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit.&nbsp;Backed by <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciapark/2025/12/11/this-startup-is-building-huge-satellites-for-an-underused-interstellar-sweet-spot/?ctpv=searchpage">$450M</a> from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others <span class="s1">– </span>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.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="p1">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="p1">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.&nbsp;<span class="TextRun SCXW79998266 BCX0" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79998266 BCX0">If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79998266 BCX0">you're</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79998266 BCX0"> excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79998266 BCX0"> space startup, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79998266 BCX0">we’d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79998266 BCX0"> love for you to apply.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW79998266 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"335559738":240,"335559739":240}">&nbsp;</span></p></div><p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">The Role</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">As K2's Crypto Engineer, you will own the architecture and design of our Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft and ground segment. You will carry these designs cradle-to-grave — from concept and trade studies, through implementation and integration, to NSA certification and accreditation, and into on-orbit operations. You'll define how K2's satellites protect command, telemetry, and mission data; partner with NSA, government customers, and certification authorities; and ensure our COMSEC architecture meets the bar for national-security missions while fitting the pace and scale of a high-volume satellite production line. This is a foundational role:&nbsp;you'll&nbsp;set the cryptographic standards the rest of the program builds against.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Responsibilities</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Own the end-to-end architecture and design of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Lead crypto designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, certification, and on-orbit operations</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Define COMSEC architecture for command, telemetry, and mission data protection, including encryption, key management, and key loading approaches</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Serve as K2's primary technical interface to NSA, certification authorities, and government customers on cryptographic certification and accreditation</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Drive the certification and accreditation effort, developing the artifacts, test evidence, and documentation&nbsp;required&nbsp;to achieve and&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;approval to operate</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Partner with flight software, avionics, RF, ground, and security teams to integrate cryptographic functions into the broader system architecture</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Support COMSEC handling, key management planning, and operational procedures for on-orbit fleet operations</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Identify&nbsp;and mitigate cryptographic and supply-chain risks across design and production</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Establish reusable cryptographic standards, interfaces, and processes that scale across K2's satellite production line</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Qualifications</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Bachelor's degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related discipline</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}">&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">5+ years of