Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Reentry)

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.

What You'll Do

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Reentry at Inversion, you will report directly to the Director of Mechanical, Reentry . In this role, you will broadly own new product introduction manufacturing and integration engineering tasks across multiple vehicle programs. You will bridge the gap between design and physical flight hardware, establishing the assembly standards and integration workflows for primary structures, mechanism integration, thermal protection systems (TPS), and complex mechanical interfaces. You will work autonomously to solve high-complexity assembly challenges, mentor junior engineers, and coordinate closely with the centralized production team to ensure Inversion’s vehicles are built safely, repeatedly, and on schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and contribute to various vehicle program assembly and integration processes, with an emphasis on new product introduction and qualification/protoqualification hardware
• Author, review, and approve detailed manufacturing work instructions, structural assembly procedures, and integration checklists.
• Design, procure, and qualify vehicle integration tooling, assembly fixtures, and ground support equipment (GSE) using CAD software.
• Lead the disposition of floor non-conformances (MRB), perform rigorous root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions for structural and mechanical integration issues
• Coordinate directly with internal work resource centers and personnel to schedule and execute part deliveries, structural bonding, mechanical fabrication, and subassembly integration.
• Establish standard practices for precision mechanical joints, fasteners, adhesives, and critical interface alignments.
• Mentor junior and mid-level integration and manufacturing engineers, ensuring high quality standards and adherence to safety and engineering practices on the vehicle floor.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 5+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing, hardware integration, structural assembly, or vehicle-level build environments.
• Proven experience authoring detailed assembly procedures, managing build configurations, and driving floor execution.
• Experience designing tooling, fixtures, or GSE in CAD (Siemens NX or equivalent) and applying standard GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Direct experience with structural bonding, composite assembly, mechanical fastening, or thermal protection system (TPS) integration.
• Familiarity with Material Review Board (MRB) processes, non-conformance tracking, and root-cause analysis.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• 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.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft, launch vehicle, or high-reliability aerospace hardware assembly.
• Experience with aerospace cleaning, bonding preparations, and cleanroom operations.
• Familiarity with high-pressure fluid systems, pyrotechnics installation, or flight avionics harnessing integration.
• Familiarity with Thermal Protection System (TPS) manufacturing processes.
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $137 ,000-$193,000 Pay G rades 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.

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