Inversion

Inversion

Senior Avionics Mechanical Engineer

Playa Vista, California, United States · Senior

Work authorization required$137k-$193kDetected 5 days ago
PythonMATLABSparkComplianceLogisticsProcurementSolidWorksCATIAANSYSFEAThermal AnalysisGD&TPCB DesignAvionicsEMI/EMCMechanical DesignAerospace EngineeringElectrical EngineeringControlsManual TestingCollaborationActuators

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 work closely with avionics, structures, propulsion, and GNC teams to ensure seamless integration of electromechanical assemblies into our next-generation vehicles.

Responsibilities

  • As a Senior Electromechanical Engineer at Inversion, you will own the design, analysis, and qualification of complex electromechanical systems that operate in the extreme environments of space and atmospheric re-entry.
  • You will bridge electrical and mechanical disciplines to develop integrated solutions including actuators, sensors, mechanisms, avionics enclosures, and thermal management systems critical to vehicle performance and mission success.
  • This role demands a hands-on engineer who can move fluidly between detailed design work, first-principles analysis, hardware testing, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Design and develop flight-critical electromechanical systems including actuators, deployment mechanisms, separation systems, valves, sensors, and thermal control devices from concept through flight qualification
  • Lead mechanical design and packaging of avionics enclosures, sensor mounting systems, and harnessing routes with consideration for mass optimization, thermal management, vibration isolation, and manufacturability
  • Perform detailed structural, thermal, and electromagnetic analysis using FEA and analytical methods to validate designs against spaceflight environments
  • Develop and execute comprehensive test campaigns including functional testing, environmental qualification (vibration, shock, thermal/thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC), life cycle testing, and acceptance testing
  • Create detailed engineering drawings, assembly procedures, interface control documents (ICDs), and design specifications
  • Work hands-on with fabrication, assembly, and integration teams to build, troubleshoot, and iterate on hardware rapidly
  • Drive design reviews and present technical trade studies to inform architecture and component selection decisions

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline
  • Typically, 5+ years of professional experience designing and testing electromechanical systems for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications
  • Strong mechanical design skills with proficiency in 3D CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar)
  • Hands-on experience with structural and thermal analysis using FEA tools (Ansys, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or equivalent)
  • Experience with environmental testing and qualification programs for flight hardware
  • Proficiency creating detailed engineering drawings with GD&T and technical documentation
  • Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams
  • Proven track record of delivering hardware from concept to flight or equivalent high-stakes deployment
  • Experience with spacecraft mechanisms such as deployment systems, separation mechanisms, solar array drives, or gimbal systems
  • Knowledge of spacecraft thermal control systems including heat pipes, radiators, heaters, and MLI
  • Background in high-reliability or safety-critical system design with formal FMEA, fault tolerance, or redundancy implementation
  • Understanding of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and grounding/shielding design principles
  • Proficiency with scripting languages (Python, MATLAB) for analysis automation and data processing
  • Experience with additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing techniques for aerospace applications
  • Knowledge of radiation effects on materials and electronics
  • Prior work in fast-paced startup environments or small multidisciplinary teams
  • Hands-on experience with vehicle integration, launch site operations, or mission support

Compensation

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

Company info

  • 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.
  • You will be a key member of the Avionics team, reporting to the Director of Engineering, Avionics.

Equal 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.

Visa & Work Authorization

  • citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U
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This listing is sourced directly from Inversion's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.