Mechanical Engineer
US$137,000 – US$193,000 / yr base salary
Posted 21 Jul 2026
Advertised as “Senior Mechanical Engineer ”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 5+ yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Employment
- On-Site
| Base salary | US$137,000 – US$193,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyAerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's
Field of studyAerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (or related)
Study levelMaster's
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 Senior Mechanical Engineer at Inversion, you will own cradle to grave development of mission-critical hardware on one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. This role spans flight hardware, prototype systems, tooling, and integration support that enables the program to move quickly from concept to build. You’ll drive mechanical system architecture working closely with cross-functional teams to solve complex packaging and manufacturability problems while driving designs 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 mechanical 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, cohesive 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