Structures Engineer II

Inversion; California (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion is seeking a Structures Engineer II to own cradle-to-grave development of primary and secondary structures on a novel reentry vehicle. You will work with cross-functional teams to solve packaging and manufacturability challenges and drive designs toward hardware realization.

Based in Playa Vista, CA, you will join a Mechanical team reporting to the Director of Mechanical, contributing to a high-impact, fast-paced aerospace program with dual-use applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• 2+ years of hardware development in aerospace/defense or similar.
• Strong mechanical design for structural interfaces and mass optimization.
• Experience with 3D CAD and GD&T documentation.
• Experience with structural analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of primary and secondary vehicle structures and interfaces.
• Develop structural sizing with analysis team input.
• Coordinate with analysis engineers on loads, margins, and environment.
• Integrate structures across subsystems and TPS-to-structure concepts.
• Produce CAD drawings and product definitions for hardware release.
• Support manufacturing, assembly planning, and flight hardware builds.
• Present progress and risks in design reviews.

Skills

3D CAD

Structural analysis

Engineering drawings

Communication

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelors in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Masters in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering (desirable)

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

ANSYS/Abaqus/NASTRAN

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

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. 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, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision.

Inherently dual‑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 of what’s possible in space‑based defense and logistics.

What You'll Do

As a Structures Engineer II at Inversion, you will own cradle‑to‑grave development of primary and secondary structures on one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. You’ll drive primary structure design for a novel reentry vehicle working closely with cross‑functional teams to solve complex packaging and manufacturability problems while driving designs toward real hardware.

This is a unique opportunity to own primary structure design of a new aerospace vehicle from initial concept through qualification and production. You will be a key member of the Mechanical team, reporting to the Director of Mechanical.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of primary and secondary vehicle structures, including load paths, joints, attachments, and structural interfaces


• Own structural concept development from early architecture through hardware realization, balancing mass efficiency, robustness, manufacturability, and reliability


• Partner closely with analysis engineers to develop and refine structural sizing approaches, margin strategy, and environmental load assumptions


• Drive structural integration across vehicle subsystems, including payload, avionics packaging, propulsion interfaces, and deployment/separation systems


• Support development of TPS‑to‑structure integration concepts, including attachment approaches, tolerances, and assembly considerations


• Generate and review CAD, drawings, and product definition needed to release high‑quality hardware


• Support prototype and flight hardware builds through manufacturing coordination, assembly planning, test support, and failure investigation


• Conduct trade studies and make sound engineering decisions in a fast‑paced, ambiguous development environment


• Present design progress, technical risks, and recommended paths forward in design reviews and cross‑functional program forums

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent technical experience


• Typically 2+ years of professional experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications


• Strong mechanical design skills with an emphasis on structural interfaces, packaging, high‑load environments, and mass optimization


• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar)


• Familiarity with structural analysis tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, FEMAP, or equivalent) with an emphasis on modal and static structural analysis


• Proficiency in creating detailed engineering drawings with GD&T and other technical documentation


• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills


• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience


• Demonstrated history of mechanical design ownership from cradle to grave


• Experience in the design and test of qualified space‑flight hardware


• Experience with large metallic structures for space, aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications


• Experience supporting prototype builds and rapid design iteration in a hardware‑rich environment

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

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $110,000–$150,000.

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.

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.