Manufacturing Engineer - Summer Internship 2027

Inversion Space Company; California; On-site; USD 52,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer Intern to join the Arc Vehicle Integration & Test team on the Playa Vista, CA campus. The role focuses on building, integrating, and testing critical subsystems for our Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle, with in-office work for the duration of the internship. The California base hourly rate is $38–$41.

ITAR eligibility is required for U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.

Qualifications

• Rising senior in Mechanical, Aerospace or Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience authoring assembly procedures and managing build configurations.
• Experience designing tooling, fixtures, or GSE in CAD and applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing, documenting, and improving manufacturing and assembly processes for complex mechanical and electromechanical systems.
• Create and maintain manufacturing work instructions, process documentation, and assembly procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, safety, and repeatability.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering to review component and assembly designs for manufacturability, assembly, and serviceability.
• Participate in design reviews and provide feedback on manufacturing constraints, tooling requirements, and assembly considerations.
• Support the transition of engineering designs into executable manufacturing processes.
• Work directly with manufacturing technicians and engineers to support hardware assembly, integration, and troubleshooting.
• Assist in identifying root causes of manufacturing issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Collect and analyze manufacturing data to identify process improvements and support engineering decisions.
• Design, build, and proof-load assembly fixtures, tooling, and ground support equipment (GSE) using CAD.

Skills

Rising Senior in ME/AE/Manufacturing

Assembly procedures & build configs

CAD tooling design & GSE

Strong communication skills

Tools

Siemens NX

GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

Job description

Advanced Reentry Technologies

Who We Are:

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:

As a Manufacturing Engineer Inten 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 support the transition of designs from the engineering team to the integration floor, develop and improve exsiting 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

• Assist in developing, documenting, and improving manufacturing and assembly processes for complex mechanical and electromechanical systems.
• Create and maintain manufacturing work instructions, process documentation, and assembly procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, safety, and repeatability.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering to review component and assembly designs for manufacturability, assembly, and serviceability.
• Participate in design reviews and provide feedback on manufacturing constraints, tooling requirements, and assembly considerations.
• Support the transition of engineering designs into executable manufacturing processes.
• Work directly with manufacturing technicians and engineers to support hardware assembly, integration, and troubleshooting.
• Assist in identifying root causes of manufacturing issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Collect and analyze manufacturing data to identify process improvements and support engineering decisions.
• Design, build, and proof-load assembly fixtures, tooling, and ground support equipment (GSE) using CAD.

Required Qualifications

• Rising Senior in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• 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.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.

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.

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence for the duration of the internship.

The California annual base hourly rate for this role is currently $38-$41. 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.