# Photonic IC Design Engineer, Chip-to-System Integration at K2 Space

- Company: K2 Space
- What the company does: Building the largest satellites in orbit. Ultra-powerful, scalable platforms engineered for LEO, MEO, GEO and cislunar missions. Explore the next-generation of satellites. Backed by Kleiner Perkins, First Round and ICONIQ.
- Company website: https://www.k2space.com/#
- Type: Startups
- Level: Mid level
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Work setup: On-site
- Pay: $130K to $200K base salary per year (USD)
- Posted: 2026-10-23
- Apply by: 2026-12-07
- Apply: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/k2spacecorporation/jobs/5462957008?utm_source=1752vc&utm_medium=careers
- Page: https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/k2-space-photonic-ic-design-engineer-chip-to-system-integration/

## About the role

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. Found on 1752vc Careers, the job board for startup and VC roles.

## What they're looking for

- Set the optical I/O requirements (coupling loss, alignment tolerance, polarization, and I/O placement on the die) and work them into the floorplan with chip designers and into the link budget with systems engineers
- Carry the high-speed electrical path through the package (wirebond or flip-chip transitions and RF interconnects to the drive electronics) and present designs at preliminary and critical design reviews
- PhD or MS in electrical engineering, optics, physics, or a related field, or a Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience
- Hands-on work at the chip boundary: optical I/O design with fiber attach or packaging, or high-speed modulator and RF design measured with a VNA (S-parameters, electro-optic bandwidth)
- Photonic device simulation (Meep, Tidy3D, Lumerical FDTD, FEM, or EME), layout tools (e.g., KLayout, gdsfactory, Cadence), and Python for automation and data analysis
- 3D mechanical CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, Inventor, Fusion) for package parts or fixtures, including drawings that a machine shop can build from

Tags: Photonics

Source: 1752vc Careers, https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/k2-space-photonic-ic-design-engineer-chip-to-system-integration/