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 Senior Mechanical 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. You will work closely with avionics, structures, propulsion, and GNC teams to ensure seamless integration of electromechanical assemblies into our next-generation spacecraft, Arc. You will be a key member of the Avionics team, reporting to the Director of Engineering, Avionics.

Key Responsibilities:

Design critical avionics mechanical systems responsible for ensuring mission critical electronics are protected against harsh thermal and mechanical environments experienced during flight from initial conceptual design through qualification and flight.
Lead mechanical design and packaging of avionics enclosures, sensor mounting systems, and harnessing routes with consideration for mass optimization, passive/active 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.
Collaborate with electrical engineers to optimize PCB layouts, connector selections, and cable routing for reliability and performance.
Coordinate with suppliers and vendors for custom component procurement, ensuring adherence to schedule and technical requirements.
Support vehicle integration activities and provide technical expertise during assembly, test, and launch operations.

Required Qualifications:

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.
Experience with PCB schematic capture and board layout using ECAD software such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, or similar.
Strong mechanical design skills with proficiency in 3D CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar).