Field Operations Manger

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 K2 Space is building the largest, highest-power satellites ever flown, and we’re hiring our first EH&S Leader to build the safety program from the ground up. You’ll design and lead EH&S strategy, compliance, and day-to-day execution across our manufacturing floor, cleanrooms, and labs. Reporting to the VP of Manufacturing, you’ll partner closely with Manufacturing, Facilities, and Engineering leadership to build safety programs that keep pace with a fast-growing hardware company. We’re scaling from early production to building satellites at rate, and the EH&S programs we need tomorrow don’t exist yet. You’ll build the safety program that protects our people and enables us to scale. Responsibilities Build and own K2's EH&S program end-to-end (policies, procedures, training, and governance) tailored to a high-growth satellite manufacturing environment Ensure compliance with OSHA/Cal-OSHA, EPA, and California DTSC hazardous materials and hazardous waste regulations, including IIPP, Title 8, and Title 22 requirements Lead industrial hygiene and exposure monitoring programs for manufacturing processes involving chemicals, composites, coatings, and other hazardous materials` Own cleanroom, lab, and shop floor safety programs, including PPE standards, machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and confined space procedures Manage hazardous materials and hazardous waste handling, storage, labeling, and disposal, including permits and regulatory reporting (Hazmat Business Plan, SB 553 workplace violence prevention plan, etc.) Lead incident investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action tracking for injuries, near-misses, and environmental incidents Own workers' compensation case management in partnership with the People team and insurance carriers Design and deliver EH&S training for new hires and existing staff across engineering, manufacturing, and lab environments Build emergency preparedness and response plans (fire, chemical spill, medical emergency, evacuation) for a growing facility footprint Define and implement systems to ensure accuracy and completion of EHS tasks across K2; track and report EHS metrics (TRIR, near-miss rates, training completion) to leadership Serve as primary point of contact for EH&S regulatory inspections and audits (Cal/OSHA, fire marshal, local environmental agencies) Partner with Facilities on ergonomic assessments, ventilation, and safety infrastructure as the company scales Qualifications Bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety, environmental science, industrial hygiene, engineering, or a related field (or equivalent hands-on experience) 7+ years of EH&S experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or aerospace/hardware environment, including 2+ years building or leading an EH&S function Deep working knowledge of Cal/OSHA, federal OSHA, and California hazardous materials/waste regulations Direct experience with hazardous materials handling, industrial hygiene, and chemical safety programs Experience leading incident investigations and managing corrective action programs Comfortable operating hands-on on a manufacturing floor, not just from a desk Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to train and influence engineers and technicians at all levels Nice to Have Experience standing up an EH&S program at a startup or fast-scaling company Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or similar certification Experience in aerospace, defense, semiconductor, or cleanroom manufacturing environments Familiarity with ISO 45001 or similar EH&S management system frameworks Compensation and Benefits Base salary range