HR Business Partner

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 an HR Business Partner at K2 Space you will have an impact in shaping our company's culture and people strategy. You will work closely partner with our HR team and leadership to implement HR initiatives, fostering an innovative and inclusive environment where top talent can thrive. You will 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 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. Note – we are looking for more than one HRBP. All of our engineering, production, and operations teams are scaling, including our HRBP team.

Responsibilities

• You will work alongside our Senior and Principal HR Business Partners, supporting their efforts while building your own partnership with the teams you serve, and growing as we build the HR function.
• Be a strategic partner and reliable resource for people managers and individual contributors, fostering a positive and productive work environment
• Partner on initiatives across the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, ensuring a seamless and positive experience for all employees.
• Respond to employee questions and provide information, guidance, and direction on core HR functions
• Foster a healthy and productive workplace by proactively identifying and addressing potential employee relations matters before they materialize, and by managing and driving solutions to existing employee relations matters in a timely, collaborative, and fair way
• Identify, develop, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to effectively deploy HR policies, programs, and processes that are required to meet contractual requirements, at law requirements, and that enable the business to scale
• Drive internal initiatives that foster employee engagement and satisfaction, and that promote employee retention
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple states.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives that support the company’s goals, such as diversity and inclusion efforts and workforce development programs.

Qualifications

• 4+ years as an HR Business Partner or Generalist, preferably in a fast-paced startup environment
• Hands-on experience working with relevant internal stakeholders and independently managing employee relations matters, internal investigations, and similar contentious matters
• Demonstrated ability to coach, guide, and influence both people managers and individual contributors throughout an organization, achieving positive resolutions to complex matters without damaging relationships
• Direct experience with California labor and employment law, including working with non-exempt workers, wage and hour matters, employee entitlements, and similar laws and regulations
• Experience managing HR functions for non-exempt employees with a deep understanding of hourly workforce dynamics and challenges, including developing and implementing compliant policies under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other wage and hour regulations, advising managers on timekeeping, overtime, and scheduling best practices, and fostering trust and engagement to promote retention and productivity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects from concept to closure, including stakeholder awareness and communications

Nice to Have

• Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR
• Experience working in a California-based aerospace, engineering, technology, or hardware manufacturing technology startup
• Experience with people data analytics
• Knowledge of how to scale a fast-paced startup

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $130,000 + 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.