Senior Mechanical Engineer: Spaceflight Hardware & Systems

Kindredventures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion, based in Playa Vista, CA, seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own cradle-to-grave hardware development for a high-performance reentry vehicle. You will design flight-critical systems, guide packaging, and drive cross-functional integration from concept through qualification.

You will work hands-on with manufacturing and test teams, perform first-principles analysis, and lead design reviews to ensure robustness in harsh space and defense environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years developing hardware for aerospace/defense or similarly demanding apps.
• Strong mechanical design skills with 3D CAD experience (NX/CATIA/SolidWorks).
• Hands-on structural/thermal analysis using FEA tools (ANSYS/Abaqus/NASTRAN).
• Experience designing for harsh environments (vacuum, extreme temps, shock, vibration).
• Knowledge of mechanisms, actuators, fasteners, seals, materials properties.
• Experience with environmental testing (shock/vibration/TVAC) and spaceflight qualification.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight-critical mechanical systems, brackets, enclosures, mounts, and mechanisms from concept through qualification.
• Lead mechanical design of subsystem integration and vehicle packaging to form a cohesive system.
• Perform detailed structural and thermal analysis to validate designs in space/ hypersonic environments.
• Plan and execute test campaigns including functional/environmental tests and qualification drives.
• Create detailed drawings, assembly procedures, ICDs, and design specifications.

Skills

Mechanical design

5+ years aerospace experience

System integration

Thermal/structural analysis

GD&T

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in related field (desired)

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

Job description

Inversion, based in Playa Vista, CA, seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own cradle-to-grave hardware development for a high-performance reentry vehicle. You will design flight-critical systems, guide packaging, and drive cross-functional integration from concept through qualification.

You will work hands-on with manufacturing and test teams, perform first-principles analysis, and lead design reviews to ensure robustness in harsh space and defense environments.