Mechanical Engineer II

Inversion Space Company; California; On-site; USD 106,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion invites a Mechanical Engineer II to help design, validate, and optimize its next‑generation reentry vehicles. You will own mechanical design from cradle to grave and collaborate with propulsion and avionics to ensure flight‑worthy systems.

This in-office role is based in Playa Vista, CA. A BS in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and 2+ years of hands-on experience are required; CAD NX and FEA proficiency essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Typically 2+ years of hands-on experience developing mechanical systems, structures and aerospace vehicles or equivalent complex assemblies.
• Strong practical mechanical design skills related to mechanisms, packaging, high-load environments, and user interfaces.
• High familiarity with CAD software, such as Siemens NX.
• Familiarity with FEA software packages such as ANSYS Mechanical, NASTRAN, FEMAP or similar, with emphasis on modal and static structural analysis.
• Experience producing engineering drawings and applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical design efforts from cradle to grave for the reentry team, including primary and secondary vehicle structures, payload accommodations, and thermal protection interfaces.
• Partner with cross‑domain stakeholders including propulsion and avionics to design and deliver mechanical systems.
• Size, package, and integrate flight components and subassemblies using CAD software.
• Analyze flight and non‑flight components using finite element analysis and hand calculations.
• Develop test plans and equipment to qualify designs through environmental testing (vibration, shock, static load, thermal).

Skills

Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

CAD design

GD&T

Verbal & written communication

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree (desired)

Tools

Siemens NX

ANSYS

NASTRAN

FEMAP

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 Mechanical Engineer II at Inversion, you will play a critical role in the design, functionality, and performance of our next-generation reentry vehicles. This is a unique opportunity to work on the early stages of vehicle design, including defining vehicle architecture and creatively solving new design challenges.

Own mechanical design efforts from cradle to grave for the reentry team including:

• Primary and secondary vehicle structures
• Payload accommodations
• Thermal protection systems interfaces

Partner with cross-domain stakeholders including propulsion and avionics to design and deliver mechanical systems critical to the vehicle's success.

Size, package, and integrate flight components and subassemblies in the vehicle using CAD software

Analyze flight and critical non-flight components using finite element analysis and hand calculations

Develop test plans and equipment to qualify designs through environmental testing including vibration, shock, static load, and thermal testing.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Typically 2+ years of applicable hands-on experience developing mechanical systems, structures, and aerospace vehicles or equivalently complicated mechanical assemblies.
• Strong practical mechanical design skills related to mechanisms, packaging, high-load environments, and user interfaces.
• High familiarity with CAD software, such as Siemens NX.
• Familiarity with FEA software packages such as ANSYS Mechanical, NASTRAN, FEMAP, or similar, with an emphasis on modal and static structural analysis
• Experience producing engineering drawings and applying standard dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Hands-on vehicle integration or design for manufacturing experience of flight or vehicle structures, bracketry, and related components.
• Demonstrated history of mechanical design product ownership from cradle to grave.
• Experience with vehicle-level flight test campaigns and hardware qualification per SMC-S016, SpaceX Rideshare Payload Users Guide (RPUG), or similar requirements
• Prior experience in the design and test of qualified space-flight hardware.

Our office headquarters are 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, 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.