Senior Mechatronics Engineer

Inversionspace; California (MO); On-site; USD 137,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA seeks a Senior Mechatronics Engineer to design and deploy automated fiber placement and EOAT for rapid space-technology manufacturing.

You will lead the setup of robotic cells, programming, and integration with PLC/HMI systems, driving improvements in cycle time and production readiness in a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field and 5+ years in automation or robotics.
• Experience designing/ integrating end-of-arm tooling (EOAT).
• Proficient with industrial robots and 3D CAD tooling.
• On-site at Inversion HQ, Playa Vista, CA; ability to obtain US security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Stand up automated fiber placement capability from requirements to commissioning.
• Design and implement EOAT for material deposition and handling.
• Create robot programs and offline paths for complex surfaces.
• Integrate controls, sensing, and machine interfaces (PLC/HMI).
• Develop robotic cells layouts, safety systems, and fixturing.
• Collaborate with materials/process engineers to tune machine parameters.
• Drive cycle time, reliability, and capability toward rate production.

Skills

Automation experience

Robotics programming

3D CAD

PLC/HMI

Robot integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related field

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field

Tools

FANUC

KUKA

ABB

Yaskawa

RoboDK

Delmia

Process Simulate

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

WhoWe 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-demandlogisticsdomain. 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,operatingthrough extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, andoperatingat hypersonic speeds.

Inherentlydual-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 ofwhat'spossible in space-based defense andlogistics.

What You'll Do:

Producing Inversion's thermal protection systems at rate meansusingmachines to do what istraditionallydone by hand. As the Senior Mechatronics Engineer, you will stand up Inversion's automated fiber placement capability and design the custom end-of-armtoolingthat adapts robotic automation to our unique materials and processes. In this role, you will:

• Stand up an automated fiber placement capability, from requirements definition and machine specification through procurement, integration, and commissioning
• Design, build, and iterate custom end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) for material deposition, handling, and processing
• Design and integrate robotic work cells, including robotselection, cell layout, safety systems, and fixturing
• Develop robot programs and deposition paths, including offline programming and path planning for complex tool surfaces
• Integrate controls, sensing, and machine interfaces — PLC/HMI, motion control, and in-process monitoring
• Work closely with materials and process engineers to translate material behavior into machine parameters, and iterate the machinery as the material evolves
• Drive cycle time, reliability, and process capability improvements as the capability matures from first articles toward rate production

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or equivalent experience in a related field
• Typically, 5+ years of experience developing automation or robotics for manufacturing
• Experience designing and integrating custom end-of-arm tooling (EOAT)
• Experience programming and integrating industrial robots (e.g., FANUC, KUKA, ABB, Yaskawa)
• Experience standing up new manufacturing equipment or work cells, including specification, procurement, commissioning, and handoff to production
• Experience with industrial controls, including PLC/HMI development and sensor integration
• Proficiencywith 3D CAD for the design of tooling and automation hardware
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, including prototyping and rapid iteration of new products
• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.
• Must have the ability to obtain andmaintaina U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
• Experience with automated fiber placement (AFP), automated tape laying (ATL), filament winding, or similar composites automation
• Experience withfiber processes (felting, needling, blind stitching, etc.) that reinforce through thickness strength of 2D materials.
• Experience with offline robot programming and simulation tools (e.g.,RoboDK,Delmia, Process Simulate)
• Experience with machine vision, force/torque sensing, or in-process inspection
• Experience with motion control and servo system design and tuning
• Experience driving cycle time and process capability in a rate production environment
• Proficiencyin programming languages such as Python or C++ for automation tooling and data collection
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams

Our office headquartersis located inPlaya Vista, CA. This position requires in-office presence.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently$137,000-$193,000PayGrades are determinedby role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will bedetermined 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 ITARhere.

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 Noticefor further details.