About the role

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion 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 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.

The Role

As a Senior HR Business Partner at K2 Space you will play a pivotal role in shaping our company's culture and people strategy. You will work closely with leadership to design and implement HR initiatives that align with our mission, fostering an innovative and inclusive environment where top talent can thrive. You will serve as a strategic partner and reliable resource for engineering people managers and individual contributors, creating a positive and productive work environment. Leverage your well-honed understanding of applicable labor and employment law to ensure the company is as compliant as it is compelling. This is a unique opportunity to build the HR function from the ground up in a dynamic, cutting-edge industry, driving impact at every level of the organization. If you're passionate about people and space, this is the role for you.

Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnership

Partner with engineering and operational leadership to anticipate workforce risks and support organizational scaling across all sites
Serve as a trusted, high-judgment advisor to people managers and individual contributors on core HR matters
Contribute to strategic initiatives that support company goals, including diversity and inclusion efforts and workforce development programs

Employee Relations & Compliance
- Proactively identify and resolve employee relations matters before they escalate, and manage existing matters in a timely, fair, and collaborative way
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple states
- Identify, build, and implement HR policies and processes required to meet legal and contractual obligations while enabling the business to scale
Manager Coaching & Leadership Development
- Coach managers on how to address people matters confidentially, compliantly, and with consistency
- Build manager capability that translates into high-performing, well-supported engineering teams
- Respond to employee questions with clear, accurate guidance on core HR functions
Talent Strategy & Retention
- Drive internal initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention
- Partner on succession planning and longer-term leadership development to build internal talent readiness

Qualifications

8+ years as an HR Business Partner, including experience with technical, engineering, or operational teams
Demonstrated success operating in high-growth, fast-scaling startup environments
Experience in a California-based aerospace, engineering, technology, or hardware manufacturing company
Proven ability to influence and coach managers and individual contributors, resolving complex matters without damaging relationships, and coaching leaders toward consistently high-performing teams
Hands-on experience independently managing complex employee relations matters, internal investigations, and other contentious issues
Experience with succession planning and leadership development to build internal talent readiness
Direct experience with California labor and employment law, including wage and hour matters, exempt/non-exempt classifications, and employee entitlements
Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, and own complex, multi-stakeholder projects
Direct experience with HRIS and performance management tools (e.g., 15Five, Rippling, Leapsome, Lattice, ADP Workforce Now)
Experience with AI tools and applications

Nice to Have

Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR
Utilization of people data analytics to make recommendations and impact outcomes
Experience managing HR functions for non-exempt employees with specific experience with California labor regulations

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $120,000 – $170,000 + 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.