Inversion

Senior Mechanical Engineer (Accurate Landing)

Playa Vista, California, United States · Senior

Work authorization required$137k-$193kDetected 63 days ago

SparkComplianceSupply ChainLogisticsSiemens NXANSYSFEAGD&TMechanical DesignAerospace EngineeringCommunication

About the role

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.
You will be a key member of the Accurate Landing Team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, Accurate Landing.

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.
Design and develop mechanical systems and mechanisms that enable the accurate and precise landing of our next-generation reentry vehicle.
Lead the development of mechanisms for parachute deployment, control actuation, and drop test structures from cradle to grave.
Qualify designs through environmental testing, including vibration, shock, load, and thermal testing.
Support prototype design, hands-on integration, fit checks, and issue resolution during build.
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.

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software.
Familiarity with FEA software packages such as ANSYS Mechanical, NASTRAN, FEMAP, or similar
Experience producing engineering drawings and applying standard dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
Experience taking hardware from concept through fabrication, assembly, and integration.
Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
Experience with spacecraft, launch, reentry, hypersonic, or other high-performance aerospace systems.
Demonstrated history of mechanical design product ownership from cradle to grave.
Prior experience in the design and test of qualified space-flight hardware.
Experience supporting prototype builds and rapid design iteration in a hardware-rich environment.
Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams.

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.
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.
In this role, you will:
Test high-performance accurate landing and recovery systems through aerial drop test campaigns.

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.

This listing is sourced directly from Inversion's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.