Manufacturing Engineer - Summer Internship 2027

inversionspace; California; On-site; USD 52,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Advanced Reentry Technologies in Playa Vista, CA, seeks a Manufacturing Engineer Intern to join the Arc Vehicle Integration & Test team. You will help build, integrate, and test subsystems for a hypersonic reentry vehicle and translate designs to floor tooling and processes.

The role targets a rising senior in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Manufacturing Engineering with CAD experience and strong communication skills; in-office internship with hands-on hardware work.

Qualifications

• Rising senior pursuing a relevant engineering degree.
• Experience authoring assembly procedures is a plus.
• Familiar with GD&T and ASME Y14.5 is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and improving manufacturing and assembly processes.
• Create and maintain work instructions and procedures.
• Collaborate with design engineers to review manufacturability.
• Support hardware assembly, integration, and troubleshooting on the floor.
• Identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

Skills

Communication skills

Procedural drafting

Education

Rising Senior in Mechanical/Aerospace/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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