Structures Engineer II

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 developing hardware for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications
• Strong mechanical design skills with 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 supporting prototype builds and rapid design iteration in a hardware-rich environment

Our Office

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in-office presence.

Pay

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.