Aerospace TPS Technician: Precision Heat Shield Expert

Inversion; California; On-site; USD 46,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge aerospace firm in California is seeking a highly skilled TPS Technician who will be responsible for fabricating, installing, and refurbishing thermal protection systems. This role is crucial for ensuring the integrity of heat shield systems. Candidates should have over 5 years of aerospace manufacturing experience with specific expertise in ablative materials. The position offers a salary range of $46,000 – $61,000 and requires in-office presence. Applicants must conform to U.S. export regulations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing, composites, or TPS-related work.
• Experience with ablative materials, adhesives, or high-temperature composites.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and work instructions.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate, install, bond, and finish ablative TPS materials on flight hardware.
• Inspect TPS installations for defects and compliance to spec.
• Document work performed and track hardware through build processes.

Skills

Ablative materials

Attention to detail

Aerospace manufacturing experience

Technical drawing interpretation

Tools

Precision hand tools

Measuring equipment

Job description

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology to enable next-generation capabilities from space. By combining high-performance materials, precision aerodynamics, and mission-driven autonomy, Inversion is transforming reentry into an operational capability for an entirely new class of missions.

The company’s highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and other national security missions that require precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere. Arc creates an entirely new transportation domain, unlocking unprecedented speed and global reach.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling the company to move rapidly from concept to flight. The company is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with customers across the U.S. government and commercial space industry.

Position Overview:

We’re looking for a highly skilled and detail-oriented TPS Technician to support the fabrication, installation, and refurbishment of thermal protection systems across our flight hardware. This role is critical to ensuring the integrity and performance of heat shield systems, including ablative materials and reusable tile-based protection.

You’llwork closely with engineering and integration teams to bring designs to life—owning the hands-on execution of TPS processes in a fast-paced startup environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Fabricate, install, bond, and finish ablative TPS materials on flight hardware.
• Install, fit, trim, and repair ceramic and composite TPS tiles.
• Perform surface prep including sanding, cleaning, masking, and priming for TPS application.
• Execute bonding processes (adhesives, curing cycles, vacuum bagging where applicable).
• Inspect TPS installations for defects, gaps, adhesion issues, and compliance to spec.
• Conduct rework and repairs on damaged TPS systems.
• Interpret engineering drawings, work instructions, and process specs.
• Collaborate with engineering to refine installation processes and improve manufacturability.
• Maintain cleanroom or controlled environment standards where required.
• Document work performed and track hardware through build processes.

Required Qualifications:

• Typically 5+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing, composites, or TPS-related work.
• Experience working with ablative materials, adhesives, or high-temperature composites.
• Familiarity with precision hand tools, measuring equipment, and shop processes.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and work instructions.
• Strong attention to detail and craftsmanship mindset.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Direct experience with thermal protection systems (tiles, blankets, or ablatives).
• Experience with bonding processes, including adhesive selection and cure cycles.
• Background in aerospace, defense, or high-performance automotive manufacturing.
• Experience working in cleanroom or controlled environments.
• Familiarity with NDI/inspection methods for bonded systems.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive manual tasks
• Comfortable working with PPE, respirators, and safety equipment asrequired
• Ability tolift upto50lbs

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $46 - $61. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here .

Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability.

Inversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Notice for further details.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Inversion? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

LinkedIn Profile

Website

What are your base salary ($USD) expectations?

If you’re currently outside a commutable distance, are you open to relocating to our corporate headquarters in Playa Vista, CA? * Select...

Are you authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship? * Select...

Were you referred to Inversion by a current employee? Select...

If you were referred, please provide the name of the employee.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Do you meet the above criteria? * Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Inversion’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.