Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Playa Vista, California, United States

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We 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-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. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds. 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 Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Inversion, you will play a critical role in the design, packaging, and rapid iteration of hardware across multiple spacecraft and hypersonic development programs. This role spans flight hardware, prototype systems, integration support, and tooling that helps programs move quickly from concept to build. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to solve hard packaging and manufacturability problems while driving designs toward real hardware. In this role, you will:

• Design mechanical systems, structures, brackets, enclosures, mounts, and mechanisms across multiple spacecraft and hypersonic programs.
• Own CAD models, drawings, release packages, and bill of materials for prototype and flight-like hardware.
• Support prototype design, hands-on integration, fit checks, and issue resolution during build.
• Provide additional tooling design bandwidth for assembly, integration, and test activities as needed.
• Drive design trades across performance, manufacturability, schedule, and cost.
• Work closely with manufacturing, test, supply chain, and technician teams to bring designs from concept through fabrication and integration.
• Partner with outside vendors and suppliers to source parts, review manufacturability, and accelerate development.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of applicable experience in mechanical design, integration, and hardware development.
• Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software.
• Strong GD&T, tolerance stack-up, and drawing release fundamentals.
• Experience taking hardware from concept through fabrication, assembly, and integration.
• Familiarity with common aerospace fabrication methods including machining, sheet metal, welded assemblies, and prototype hardware builds.
• 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:

• Experience with spacecraft, launch, reentry, hypersonic, or other high-performance aerospace systems.
• Experience supporting prototype builds and rapid design iteration in a hardware-rich environment.
• Experience designing tooling, fixtures, or support equipment for integration and test.
• Experience using hand calculations and/or FEA to inform mechanical design decisions.
• 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 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. 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.