# Photonic IC Design Engineer, Design Automation & Modeling 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/5462961008?utm_source=1752vc&utm_medium=careers
- Page: https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/k2-space-photonic-ic-design-engineer-design-automation-and-modeling/

## 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

- Build and maintain fabrication-aware inverse design (topology optimization in JAX or PyTorch, with lithography models and robustness to process variation) as a core engine of the flow
- Bring agentic and AI-guided tools into the design loop for design-space exploration, layout generation, optimization, and data analysis
- Maintain pcells and compact models for the team's component library, with regression tests so flow and PDK changes don't break existing designs
- Develop behavioral and physical models of photonic circuits, links, lasers, and gain media, and support system co-design with K2's electronics and ASIC teams
- Make the flow usable by the whole team through documentation, reviews, and mentoring
- PhD or MS in electrical engineering, optics, physics, computer science, or a related field, or a Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience

Tags: Photonics

Source: 1752vc Careers, https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/k2-space-photonic-ic-design-engineer-design-automation-and-modeling/