Senior Mechanical Engineer

Inversion; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion, based in Playa Vista, CA, seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own cradle‑to‑grave development of mission‑critical hardware for advanced reentry vehicles. You’ll drive mechanical system architecture, oversee flight hardware, prototype systems, tooling, and integration, moving quickly from concept to build.

You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, perform structural and thermal analyses, lead testing campaigns, and develop detailed drawings and interfaces.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent technical experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, or demanding applications.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks).
• Hands-on structural and thermal analysis with FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN).
• Design for harsh environments (vacuum, extreme temperatures, shock, vibration).
• Experience with mechanisms, actuators, fasteners, bearings, seals, materials properties.
• Familiarity with environmental testing and spaceflight hardware qualification programs.
• Ability to create detailed engineering drawings with GD&T.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight-critical mechanical systems from concept through qualification.
• Lead subsystem integration and vehicle packaging for cohesive systems.
• Perform structural and thermal analyses to validate designs for spaceflight environments.
• Plan and execute comprehensive test campaigns including environmental qualifications.
• Create detailed drawings, ICDs, and design specifications for hardware.
• Work with manufacturing to build, troubleshoot, and iterate hardware quickly.
• Lead design reviews and trade studies on architecture and components.
• Coordinate with suppliers for procurement while meeting schedule and requirements.
• Support vehicle integration, assembly, test, and launch activities.

Skills

3D CAD

FEA analysis

GD&T

Mechanical design

Systems integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Abaqus

NASTRAN

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. Space is a platform that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach. Our spacecraft deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. The technology serves national security needs and future commercial applications. We are backed by leading investors and partners including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, U.S. Space Force, and NASA.

What You’ll Do

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer you will own cradle‑to‑grave development of mission‑critical hardware on one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. Your work spans flight hardware, prototype systems, tooling, and integration support that enables the program to move quickly from concept to build. You’ll drive mechanical system architecture, working closely with cross‑functional teams to solve packaging and manufacturability problems while advancing designs toward real hardware.

This role demands a versatile, hands‑on engineer who can fluidly move between high‑level system architecture, detailed design work, first‑principles analysis, hardware testing, and cross‑functional collaboration. You will be a key member of the Mechanical team, reporting to the Director of Mechanical.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight‑critical mechanical systems, brackets, enclosures, mounts, and mechanisms from concept through flight qualification.
• Lead mechanical design of subsystem integration and vehicle packaging, ensuring hardware assembles into a high‑performing, cohesive system.
• Perform detailed structural and thermal analysis using FEA and analytical methods to validate designs against hypersonic and spaceflight environments.
• Develop and execute comprehensive test campaigns including functional testing, environmental qualification (vibration, shock, thermal, TVAC, EMI/EMC), life‑cycle testing, and acceptance testing.
• Create detailed engineering drawings, assembly procedures, interface control documents (ICDs), and design specifications.
• Work hands‑on with manufacturing and integration teams to build, troubleshoot, and iterate hardware rapidly.
• Drive design reviews and present technical trade studies to inform architecture and component‑selection decisions.
• Coordinate with suppliers and vendors for custom component procurement, ensuring adherence to schedule and technical requirements.
• Support vehicle integration activities and provide technical expertise during assembly, test, and launch operations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 5 + years of professional experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, or demanding applications.
• Strong mechanical design skills and proficiency in 3D CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar).
• Hands‑on experience with structural and thermal analysis using FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability to design for harsh environments (vacuum, extreme temperatures, shock, vibration).
• Deep understanding of mechanical systems including mechanisms, actuators, fasteners, bearings, seals, and material properties.
• Familiarity with environmental testing (shock, vibration, TVAC) and qualification programs for spaceflight hardware.
• Proficiency creating detailed engineering drawings with GD&T and other technical documentation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated history of mechanical design ownership from cradle to grave.
• Experience with spacecraft and aerospace mechanisms such as deployment systems, control surfaces, separation mechanisms, solar‑array drives, gimbal systems, or cartridge‑actuated devices.
• Familiarity with propulsion system components (valves, pressure vessels, feed systems, fluid interfaces).
• Experience supporting prototype builds and rapid design iteration in a hardware‑rich environment.
• Prior work in fast‑paced startup environments or small multidisciplinary teams.

Location: Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in‑office presence.

Citizenship & Export Requirements: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, 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.

Inversion provides equal employment opportunity 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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