Structures Engineer II

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 Structures Engineer II at Inversion, you will own cradle to grave development of primary and secondary structures on one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. You’ll drive primary structure design for a novel reentry vehicle working closely with cross-functional teams to solve complex packaging and manufacturability problems while driving designs toward real hardware.  This is a unique opportunity to own primary structure design of a new aerospace vehicle from initial concept through qualification and production. You will be a key member of the Mechanical team, reporting to the Director of Mechanical.  Key Responsibilities  Lead the design and development of primary and secondary vehicle structures, including load paths, joints, attachments, and structural interfaces  Own structural concept development from early architecture through hardware realization, balancing mass efficiency, robustness, manufacturability, and reliability  Partner closely with analysis engineers to develop and refine structural sizing approaches, margin strategy, and environmental load assumptions  Drive structural integration across vehicle subsystems, including payload, avionics packaging, propulsion interfaces, and deployment/separation systems  Support development of TPS-to-structure integration concepts, including attachment approaches, tolerances, and assembly considerations  Generate and review CAD, drawings, and product definition needed to release high-quality hardware  Support prototype and flight hardware builds through manufacturing coordination, assembly planning, test support, and failure investigation  Conduct trade studies and make sound engineering decisions in a fast-paced, ambiguous development environment  Present design progress, technical risks, and recommended paths forward in design reviews and cross-functional program forums  Required Qualifications  Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent technical experience  Typically 2+ years of professional experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications  Strong mechanical design skills with an emphasis on structural interfaces, packaging, high-load environments, and mass optimization  Strong proficiency in 3D CAD software (NX, CATIA, Solidworks, or similar)  Familiarity with structural analysis tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, FEMAP, or equivalent) with an emphasis on modal and static structural analysis  Proficiency in creating detailed engineering drawings with GD&T and other technical documentation  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  Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience  Demonstrated history of mechanical design ownership from cradle to grave  Experience in the design and test of qualified space-flight hardware  Experience with large metallic structures for space, aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications  Experience supporting prototype builds and rapid design iteration in a hardware-rich environment  Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence. The California annual base salary for this role is currently $110,000 - $150,000. 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. Learn more about the ITAR here.     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.  If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Notice for further details.