Senior Avionics Mechanical Engineer

Inversion•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$137,000 - $193,000•Onsite

About The Position

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company developing reentry technology and the Arc spacecraft for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and national security missions. The company designs, manufactures, and integrates spacecraft at its Los Angeles headquarters. As a Senior Avionics Mechanical Engineer, you will own the design, analysis, and qualification of complex electromechanical systems for space and atmospheric reentry environments. You will develop integrated solutions such as actuators, sensors, mechanisms, avionics enclosures, and thermal management systems, working across detailed design, first-principles analysis, hardware testing, and cross-functional integration. You will join the Avionics team and report to the Director of Engineering, Avionics. This position requires in-office presence at the company's Playa Vista, California headquarters. The California annual base salary range is $137,000–$193,000. Individual pay depends on factors including skills, education, experience, certifications, candidate qualifications, and internal equity. The role requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret or Top Secret security clearance. Applicants must also meet applicable ITAR eligibility or authorization requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Typically 5 or more years of professional experience designing and testing electromechanical systems for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications.
Experience with PCB schematic capture and board layout using ECAD software such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, or similar.
Mechanical design proficiency with 3D CAD software such as NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar.
Hands-on structural and thermal analysis experience using FEA tools such as Ansys, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or equivalent.
Experience designing for harsh environments, including vacuum, extreme temperatures, vibration, shock, and radiation.
Deep understanding of mechanical systems, including mechanisms, actuators, fasteners, bearings, seals, and material properties.
Working knowledge of electrical systems, including power distribution, sensors, motor control, and basic circuit design.
Experience with environmental testing and qualification programs for flight hardware.
Proficiency creating detailed engineering drawings with GD&T and technical documentation.
Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
Track record of delivering hardware from concept to flight or equivalent high-stakes deployment.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
Must meet ITAR eligibility requirements or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with spacecraft mechanisms such as deployment systems, separation mechanisms, solar array drives, or gimbal systems.
Knowledge of spacecraft thermal control systems, including heat pipes, radiators, heaters, and MLI.
Background in high-reliability or safety-critical system design, including formal FMEA, fault tolerance, or redundancy implementation.
Familiarity with propulsion system components, including valves, pressure vessels, feed systems, and fluid interfaces.
Experience with servo motor control systems, stepper motors, or voice coil actuators.
Understanding of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and grounding and shielding design principles.
Proficiency with scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB for analysis automation and data processing.
Experience with additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing techniques for aerospace applications.
Knowledge of radiation effects on materials and electronics.
Prior work in fast-paced startup environments or small multidisciplinary teams.
Hands-on experience with vehicle integration, launch site operations, or mission support.

Responsibilities

Design avionics mechanical systems that protect mission-critical electronics from flight thermal and mechanical environments, from conceptual design through qualification and flight.
Lead mechanical design and packaging of avionics enclosures, sensor mounting systems, and harness routes, considering mass, thermal management, vibration isolation, and manufacturability.
Perform structural, thermal, and electromagnetic analysis using FEA and analytical methods.
Develop and execute functional, environmental qualification, life-cycle, and acceptance test campaigns, including vibration, shock, thermal and thermal-vacuum, and EMI/EMC testing.
Create engineering drawings, assembly procedures, interface control documents, and design specifications.
Work with fabrication, assembly, and integration teams to build, troubleshoot, and iterate hardware.
Lead design reviews and present technical trade studies for architecture and component selection decisions.
Collaborate with electrical engineers on PCB layouts, connector selection, and cable routing.
Coordinate custom component procurement with suppliers and vendors to meet schedules and technical requirements.
Support vehicle integration and provide technical expertise during assembly, testing, and launch operations.