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.
Position Overview:
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.
Key Responsibilities:
- 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.
- 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.
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