Structures Engineer II

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are:

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. 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. 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.

What You'll Do

As a 

S

tructures

 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 develope

d

. 

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 des

igns toward real hardware

.

T

his 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

  de

  veloping hardware

   for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications

• Strong mechanical design skills w

  ith 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

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.