Global Supply Manager, Mechanical

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 be responsible for defining and implementing procurement strategies for K2 Space’s mechanical supply chain. You will be the subject matter expert in supply chain best practices for hardware in your domain, building a world-class supply chain that drives a competitive advantage, taking ownership to ensure success on program build targets, and coaching team members to operate at the same high standards. Key skills will include having a deep understanding of the market and capabilities that are available to use in manufacturing, technical procurement of mechanical hardware, and end-to-end Bill of Material (BOM) management for owned assemblies. You will work closely with our internal teams and external partners to deliver hardware that meets cost, schedule, and quality targets in support of our company critical missions.

Responsibilities

• Define company-wide strategy for how hardware in mechanical commodities are sourced including machined parts, mechanisms, composites, COPVs, and raw material
• Lead cradle-to-grave supplier management, including identifying capabilities within the supply base, onboarding vendors to add capacity or capabilities, quoting and placing orders, working with engineering and quality teams to resolve issues, and tracking build milestones until hardware hits the dock
• Drive negotiations on contracts with key suppliers to meet cost, schedule, and quality targets
• Create robust supplier scorecards and metrics to ensure consistent supplier performance and quality is maintained across the mechanical supply chain
• Develop strong partnerships with internal stakeholders ensuring consistent alignment on expectations and procurement strategies to meet critical mission needs
• Execute and maintain highly-quality purchasing transactions by issuing purchase orders and managing open orders with materials requirement planning to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Establish strategic relationships with key manufacturing companies and distributors to ensure strong alignment to industry and commodity trends

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in supply chain management or engineering in the aerospace industry
• 3+ years of experience reading mechanical drawings and working with structures and mechanisms hardware
• 3+ years managing Bill of Materials for mechanical assemblies
• Experience managing mechanical suppliers in a fast-paced environment
• Strong understanding of inventory management and how to store mechanical hardware
• Ability to collaborate in a cross-functional environment with engineering, production, and finance
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Must be able to lift and carry parts or equipment up to 25 lbs. unassisted

Nice to Have

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, finance, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or mathematics
• Experience in procuring additional commodities: pressurized components and solar array materials
• Experience in a new product introduction environment
• Experience reading and interpreting technical engineering drawings

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 + 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.