Senior Mechatronics Engineer: AFP Automation Lead

Kindredventures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion in Playa Vista, CA is seeking a Senior Mechatronics Engineer to stand up automated fiber placement and custom end-of-arm tooling for our space-grade manufacturing line. You will design robotic cells, select equipment, and develop robot programs and offline paths for complex tool surfaces.

Collaborating with materials and process engineers, you will translate material behavior into machine parameters, drive cycle time improvements, and push toward rate production while ensuring safety

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.
• Proficiency with 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 and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Stand up 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 robot selection, 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

Skills

Automation experience

Robotics integration

EOAT design

Industrial robots

3D CAD

Python programming

C++ programming

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelors degree

Masters preferred

Tools

FANUC

KUKA

ABB

Yaskawa

CAD software

Job description

Inversion in Playa Vista, CA is seeking a Senior Mechatronics Engineer to stand up automated fiber placement and custom end-of-arm tooling for our space-grade manufacturing line. You will design robotic cells, select equipment, and develop robot programs and offline paths for complex tool surfaces.

Collaborating with materials and process engineers, you will translate material behavior into machine parameters, drive cycle time improvements, and push toward rate production while ensuring safety