Senior Mechanical Engineer

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 S enior Mechan ical Engineer at Inversion, you will own cradle to grave development of mission-critical hardware on one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever develope d. This role spans flight hardware, prototype systems, tooling, and integration support that enables the pro gram to move quickly from concept to build. You’ll drive mechanical system archi tecture working closely with cross-functional teams to solve complex packaging and manufacturability problems while driving des igns toward real hardware . This role demands a versatile, hands-on engineer who can fluidly move between high-level system architecture, detailed design work, first-principles analysis, hardware testing, and cross-functional collaboration. You will be a key member of the Mechanical team, reporting to the Director of Mechanical. Key Responsibilities Design and develop flight-critical mecha nical systems, brackets, enclosures, mounts, and mechanisms from concept through flight qualification Lead mechanical design of subsystem integration and vehicle packaging , ensuring hardware comes together as a high-performing, coh esive system Perform detailed structural and thermal analysis using FEA and analytical methods to validate designs against hypersonic and spaceflight environments Develop and execute comprehensive test campaigns including functional testing, environmental qualification (vibration, shock, thermal, TVAC, 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 manufacturing and integration teams to build, troubleshoot, and iterate hardware rapidly Drive design reviews and present technical trade studies to inform architecture and component selection decisions Coordinate with suppliers and vendors for custom component…