Mechanical Engineer - Summer Internship 2027

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

Job summary

Inversion is seeking a Mechanical Engineer Intern to contribute to mission-critical hardware for a leading reentry vehicle program. You will work with senior engineers on CAD models, drawings, and design documentation, taking concepts to testable hardware.

You will participate in analysis, prototyping, tooling, and integration activities across the engineering lifecycle, reporting to the Director of Mechanical. This in-office role requires strong problem-solving and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Hands-on engineering experience through coursework, project teams, internships, or personal projects.
• Experience with 3D CAD software such as NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or Creo.
• Understanding of mechanical engineering principles and willingness to work through ambiguous technical problems.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of mechanical systems including brackets, enclosures, mechanisms, tooling, and test equipment.
• Create and revise 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and bills of materials.
• Perform engineering analysis using first-principles calculations, hand analysis, and FEA to assess structural and thermal performance.
• Support hardware test campaigns, including functional, vibration, shock, thermal, and environmental testing.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and integration teams to build, inspect, and iterate hardware.
• Maintain engineering documentation such as procedures, test plans, reports, and interface documents.
• Take ownership of well-scoped projects and communicate progress and risks clearly.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Master's degree in aerospace engineering

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

Creo

Job description

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 Intern at Inversion, you will contribute to the development of mission-critical hardware for one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. You'll work alongside experienced mechanical engineers to help take flight hardware, prototype systems, tooling, and integration equipment from early concepts to real, testable hardware.

This is a hands-on role for a highly motivated engineer who is excited to learn quickly, solve difficult physical problems, and see their work built and tested. You may contribute across the engineering lifecycle from CAD design and drawings to analysis, procurement, assembly, testing, and vehicle integration.

You will be a member of the Mechanical team and report to the Director of Mechanical.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of mechanical systems including brackets, enclosures, mechanisms, tooling, and test equipment
• Create and revise 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and bills of materials
• Perform engineering analysis using a combination of first-principles calculations, hand analysis, and FEA to assess structural and thermal performance
• Support the planning, setup, execution, and documentation of hardware test campaigns, including functional, vibration, shock, thermal, and environmental testing as applicable
• Work directly with manufacturing, technicians, and integration teams to build, inspect, troubleshoot, and iterate hardware
• Help create and maintain engineering documentation, including assembly procedures, test plans and reports, interface documents, and design specifications
• Take ownership of well-scoped engineering projects while communicating progress, risks, and technical findings clearly

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline
• Demonstrated interest and aptitude in hands-on engineering through coursework, project teams, research, internships, personal projects, machining, robotics, rocketry, automotive, or similar experience
• Experience using 3D CAD software such as NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar
• Fundamental understanding of mechanical engineering principles, including statics, mechanics of materials, machine design, heat transfer, and material properties
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, learn quickly, and work through ambiguous technical problems
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality engineering work
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively on a fast-moving, collaborative team

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience designing, building, and testing complex physical systems including rocketry, CubeSats, robotics, Formula SAE, Baja, UAVs, marine vehicles, lab research, or personal projects
• Familiarity with GD&T, engineering drawings, tolerancing, and design for manufacturing and assembly
• Exposure to structural or thermal analysis tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar
• Experience with machining, sheet metal, composites, additive manufacturing, or other fabrication processes
• Familiarity with test instrumentation, data acquisition, or laboratory testing practices
• Passion for aerospace hardware and a desire to contribute to ambitious, real-world engineering programs

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, a