Senior Manufacturing Engineer

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: 

Producing Inversion's thermal protection systems at rate means using machines to do what is traditionally done by hand. As the Senior Mechatronics Engineer, you will stand up Inversion's automated fiber placement capability and design the custom end-of-arm tooling that adapts robotic automation to our unique materials and processes. In this role, you will: 

• Stand up an automated fiber placement capability, from requirements definition and machine specification through procurement, integration, and commissioning 

• Design, build, and iterate custom end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) for material deposition, handling, and processing 

• Design and integrate robotic work cells, including robot selection, cell layout, safety systems, and fixturing 

• Develop robot programs and deposition paths, including offline programming and path planning for complex tool surfaces 

• Integrate controls, sensing, and machine interfaces — PLC/HMI, motion control, and in-process monitoring 

• Work closely with materials and process engineers to translate material behavior into machine parameters, and iterate the machinery as the material evolves 

• Drive cycle time, reliability, and process capability improvements as the capability matures from first articles toward rate production 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or equivalent experience in a related field 

• Typically, 5+ years of experience developing automation or robotics for manufacturing 

• Experience designing and integrating custom end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) 

• Experience programming and integrating industrial robots (e.g., FANUC, KUKA, ABB, Yaskawa) 

• Experience standing up new manufacturing equipment or work cells, including specification, procurement, commissioning, and handoff to production 

• Experience with industrial controls, including PLC/HMI development and sensor integration 

• Proficiency with 3D CAD for the design of tooling and automation hardware 

• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, including prototyping and rapid iteration of new products 

• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA. 

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field 

• Experience with automated fiber placement (AFP), automated tape laying (ATL), filament winding, or similar composites automation 

• Experience with fiber processes (felting, needling, blind stitching, etc.) that reinforce through thickness strength of 2D materials. 

• Experience with offline robot programming and simulation tools (e.g., RoboDK, Delmia, Process Simulate) 

• Experience with machine vision, force/torque sensing, or in-process inspection 

• Experience with motion control and servo system design and tuning 

• Experience driving cycle time and process capability in a rate production environment 

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or C++ for automation tooling and data collection 

• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams 

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 $137,000-$193,000 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.