Structures Engineer II

Inversion Space Company; California; 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 an advanced reentry vehicle. You’ll lead design from concept through production, coordinating with cross-functional teams to optimize mass, robustness, and manufacturability while solving complex packaging challenges.

Based in Playa Vista, CA, you will join a Mechanical team reporting to the Director of Mechanical, with a clear path from concept to qualification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• 2+ years hardware development experience in aerospace/defense.
• Strong mechanical design skills for structural interfaces and mass optimization.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD and drawing standards (GD&T).
• Experience with CAD tools and structural analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of primary and secondary vehicle structures.
• Own structural concept development from architecture to hardware realization.
• Collaborate with analysis engineers on sizing, margins and loads.
• Drive structural integration across subsystems including payload and propulsion interfaces.
• Support TPS-to-structure integration concepts and assembly planning.
• Produce CAD drawings and product definitions for release of hardware.
• Support prototype builds, manufacturing coordination, and test activities.
• Present progress and risks in design reviews and cross-functional forums.
• Operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous development environment.

Skills

3D CAD

Structural design

GD&T

Engineering drawings

Communication skills

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

U.S. citizenship / clearance eligibility

Tools

ANSYS

NASTRAN

FEMAP

Job description

Advanced Reentry Technologies

Who We Are:

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology to enable next-generation capabilities from space. By combining high-performance materials, precision aerodynamics, and mission-driven autonomy, Inversion is transforming reentry into an operational capability for an entirely new class of missions.

The company’s highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and other national security missions that require precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere. Arc creates an entirely new transportation domain, unlocking unprecedented speed and global reach.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling the company to move rapidly from concept to flight. The company is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with customers across the U.S. government and commercial space industry.

Position Overview

As a S tructures 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 develope d . 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 des igns toward real hardware .

T his 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 de veloping hardware for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications
• Strong mechanical design skills w ith 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
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

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. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined 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 ITAR here .

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 Notice for further details.