Manufacturing Engineer II (Arc Vehicle)

Kindredventures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Kindredventures in Playa Vista, CA is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to oversee the integration and testing of critical subsystems for the Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle. You will develop assembly sequences and ensure high-quality standards through design execution and floor troubleshooting.

This role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline, along with 2+ years of industry experience. The base annual salary ranges from $106,000 to $150,000, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing.
• Proven ability to author detailed assembly procedures.

Responsibilities

• Develop assembly sequence and integration plans for the Arc vehicle.
• Create manufacturing work instructions and checklists.
• Design and build tooling and assembly fixtures.

Skills

Aerospace manufacturing experience

Hardware integration

Detail assembly procedures

CAD design

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Siemens NX

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are:

Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space.

Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform — one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach.

Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds.

Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space-based defense and logistics.

What You’ll Do

As a Manufacturing Engineer (Arc Vehicle) at Inversion, you will report directly to the Manager of Arc Vehicle Integration & Test. In this role, you will build, integrate, and test critical subsystems for our Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle. You will own the transition of designs from the engineering team to the integration floor, developing build sequences, assembly procedures, and floor tooling. You will work cross-functionally with design engineers and floor technicians to execute physical integration, troubleshoot hardware anomalies in real-time, and ensure flight hardware meets strict quality and schedule milestones.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and own the end-to-end vehicle assembly sequence, integration flow, and build plans for the Arc vehicle.
• Create and execute detailed vehicle assembly sequences and integration plans for critical Arc subsystems.
• Author, release, and maintain high-fidelity manufacturing work instructions, structural bonding procedures, and integration checklists.
• Design, build, and proof-load assembly fixtures, tooling, and ground support equipment (GSE) using CAD.
• Lead the disposition of floor non-conformances (MRB), perform rigorous root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions for structural and mechanical integration issues.
• Coordinate directly with centralized shops to schedule and execute part deliveries, structural bonding, mechanical fabrication, and subassembly integration.
• Establish standard practices for precision mechanical joints, fasteners, adhesives, and critical interface alignments.
• Execute subassembly and vehicle-level mass properties, alignment measurements, and system checkouts.
• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 2+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing, hardware integration, structural assembly, or vehicle-level build environments.
• Proven experience authoring detailed assembly procedures, managing build configurations, and driving floor execution.
• Experience designing tooling, fixtures, or GSE in CAD (Siemens NX or equivalent) and applying standard GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Direct experience with structural bonding, composite assembly, mechanical fastening, or thermal protection system (TPS) integration.
• Familiarity with Material Review Board (MRB) processes, non-conformance tracking, and root-cause analysis.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft, launch vehicle, or high-reliability aerospace hardware assembly.
• Experience with aerospace cleaning, bonding preparations, and cleanroom operations.
• Familiarity with high-pressure fluid systems, pyrotechnics installation, or flight avionics harnessing integration.
• Familiarity with Thermal Protection System (TPS) manufacturing processes.
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams.

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 $106,000 - $150,000. 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.

ITAR Compliance

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.