Guidance Navigation & Control (GNC) Intern – Summer 2026

K2 Space is building large, high-powered spacecraft for the next generation of space development. Backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Altimeter Capital, and many others ($200M raised to date), we intend to mass produce the highest-powered satellite platforms ever built for missions across LEO to Deep Space. 

The rise of launch vehicles like Falcon 9 and Starship enables the move from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance. We believe this new era requires spacecraft with a fundamentally different design in order to fully utilize the massive rockets coming to market.  

We’re a team that believes the future lies in building large, high-powered satellites that can handle multiple orbits. This is a necessity if we ever want 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 B space startup, we’d love for you to apply. 

The Role 

We’re looking for a stellar GNC Intern to join our team for a 3 month internship. Working closely with our GNC engineers, you will be responsible for developing models in our in-house 6 DoF simulation, testing and developing GNC algorithms for attitude and orbit control to support spacecraft operations, supporting actual on-orbit operations of our Mega spacecraft (expected launch February 2026), and assisting in the verification and validation of space-grade flight software. K2 Space is a highly collaborative environment, and our interns will be encouraged to work with mentors and other team members to execute complex projects while maintaining a significant level of ownership and autonomy. 

Responsibilities 

• Work with other engineers to develop a novel high-level vehicle architecture 

• Develop novel algorithms for precise pointing, state estimation, orbit transfer, mission design, and station-keeping of very large structures in earth orbit and beyond 

• Test these novel algorithms in unit testing and an integrated simulation and HITL environment 

• Develop models and simulations for high fidelity spacecraft actuators, sensors, and dynamics 

• Support actuator and sensor hardware trades for K2’s next generation spacecraft 

Qualifications 

• Must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s program in aerospace, mechanical, or other relevant engineering discipline 

• 6+ months of experience applying technical engineering skills outside of the university classroom setting (eg: laboratory, research, extracurricular project teams, volunteering, personal projects or prior internship/work experience) 

• Experience with Python, Julia, C/C++, or Matlab for algorithm development, implementation, and simulation 

Additional Requirements 

• Available for a minimum 12-week internship in person at our HQ in Torrance 

Nice to Have 

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program in aerospace, mechanical, or other relevant engineering discipline 

• Ability to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers 

• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic professional setting with changing needs and requirements 

• Experience with Rust for algorithm development, implementation, and simulation 

• Demonstrated ability with GNC actuator or sensor sizing, selection, and system design within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting