Principal Crypto Engineer (TS//SCI)

Los Angelesfull timeOn Site

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senior

$160k–$245k

H1B: no

K2 Space Principal Crypto Engineer at K2 Space owning the technical architecture and design of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across spacecraft, payload, and ground segment. Lead designs from concept through implementation, integration, and test while supporting NSA certification.

Responsibilities

As K2's Principal Crypto Engineer, reporting to the VP of Satellite Engineering & Operations, you will own the technical architecture and design of our Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment. You'll lead these designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, and test. You'll define how K2's satellites protect command, telemetry, and mission data at the hardware and software level, and build it to fit a high-volume satellite production line. You'll work hand-in-hand with our COMSEC Certification Lead on the National Security team, who owns the path to NSA approval. This is a foundational role: you'll set the cryptographic design standards the rest of the program builds against.
Own the end-to-end technical architecture of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment
Lead crypto designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, and test
Design encryption, key management, and key loading implementations for command, telemetry, and mission data
Integrate cryptographic functions into flight software, avionics, FPGA, RF, and ground systems in partnership with those teams
Define hardware and software interfaces between crypto equipment and the broader system architecture
Produce the design documentation and test evidence needed to support certification, working closely with K2’s COMSEC Certification lead
Identify and mitigate cryptographic design risks across hardware, software, and RF boundaries
Establish reusable cryptographic designs, interfaces, and standards that scale across K2's production line
Support anomaly resolution and troubleshooting for fielded and on-orbit crypto systems

Qualification

Strong systems-level thinkingAbility to work in a fast-pacedExperience with spacecraftExperience with embedded systemsBackground in RFExposure to NSA certification processesAdditional RequirementsAbility to travel up to 15% of the time

Required

Bachelor's degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related discipline
5+ years of engineering experience designing or integrating cryptographic systems or secure communications
Hands-on experience integrating NSA Type-1 cryptographic equipment into a hardware or software system
Working knowledge of key management and key loading implementations
Strong systems-level thinking, with the ability to reason from first principles across hardware, software, and RF boundaries
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup atmosphere with competing priorities and aggressive schedules

Preferred

Experience with spacecraft, satellite, or other space-system cryptographic integrations
Experience with embedded systems, FPGA design, or flight software
Familiarity with cryptographic modernization initiatives and current NSA-approved algorithms and equipment
Background in RF, link design, or secure command and telemetry systems
Exposure to NSA certification processes
Additional Requirements
Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance required; ability to obtain and maintain access to additional programs as needed

Benefits

Dental
Vision
PTO
Equity/RSU
Parental Leave
Life Insurance

Company

K2 Space

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Source: greenhouse

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encryptionkey managementkey loadingflight softwareavionicsFPGA

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Principal Crypto Engineer (TS//SCI) at K2 Space · LumiJobs