Mechanical Engineer I

Inversion; California (MO); On-site; USD 77,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer I to contribute to the design, packaging, and rapid iteration of hardware across spacecraft and hypersonic programs. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve packaging and manufacturability challenges and drive designs toward real hardware.

You will work on landing mechanisms, parachute deployment, and test structures, supporting prototype builds and ongoing design iteration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 0–3 years of hands-on experience developing mechanical systems, structures, and aerospace vehicles or equivalent.
• Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software.
• Experience using hand calculations and fundamental mechanics to inform analysis and design.
• Familiarity with engineering drawings and applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Experience taking hardware from concept through fabrication, assembly, and integration.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical systems and mechanisms for accurate landing of our reentry vehicle.
• Lead development of mechanisms for parachute deployment, actuation, and drop test structures.
• Test high‑performance landing and recovery systems through aerial drop tests.
• Qualify designs through environmental testing (vibration, shock, thermal).
• Support prototype design, hands-on integration, fit checks, and issue resolution during build.
• Drive design trades across performance, manufacturability, schedule, and cost.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, test, supply chain, and technicians to move designs to fabrication.
• Partner with outside vendors to source parts and accelerate development.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

ANSYS Mechanical

NASTRAN

FEMAP

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 Mechanical Design Engineer I at Inversion, you will play a critical role in the design, packaging, and rapid iteration of hardware across multiple spacecraft and hypersonic development programs. This role spans flight hardware, prototype systems, integration support, and tooling that helps programs move quickly from concept to build. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to solve hard packaging and manufacturability problems while driving designs toward real hardware. You will be a key member of the Accurate Landing Team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, Accurate Landing. In this role, you will:

• Design and develop mechanical systems and mechanisms that enable the accurate and precise landing of our next-generation reentry vehicle.
• Lead the development of mechanisms for parachute deployment, control actuation, and drop test structures from cradle to grave.
• Test high-performance accurate landing and recovery systems through aerial drop test campaigns.
• Qualify designs through environmental testing, including vibration, shock, load, and thermal testing.
• Support prototype design, hands‑on integration, fit checks, and issue resolution during build.
• Drive design trades across performance, manufacturability, schedule, and cost.
• Work closely with manufacturing, test, supply chain, and technician teams to bring designs from concept through fabrication and integration.
• Partner with outside vendors and suppliers to source parts, review manufacturability, and accelerate development.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Typically, 0‑3 years of applicable hands‑on experience developing mechanical systems, structures, and aerospace vehicles or equivalently complicated mechanical assemblies.
• Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software.
• Experience using hand calculations and fundamental mechanics to inform analysis and design.
• Familiarity with engineering drawings and applying standard dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
• Experience taking hardware from concept through fabrication, assembly, and integration.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Familiarity with FEA software packages such as ANSYS Mechanical, NASTRAN, FEMAP, or similar.
• Experience with inflatable structures, soft goods, or textile‑based assemblies.
• Demonstrated history of mechanical design product ownership from cradle to grave.
• Prior experience in the design and test of qualified space‑flight hardware.
• Experience supporting prototype builds and rapid design iteration in a hardware‑rich environment.
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $77,000‑$116,000. 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.

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.

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