Senior Avionics Mechanical Engineer

Position Overview

As a Senior Avionics Mechanical Engineer at Inversion, you will own the design, analysis, and qualification of complex electromechanical systems that operate in the extreme environments of space and atmospheric re-entry. You will bridge electrical and mechanical disciplines to develop integrated solutions including actuators, sensors, mechanisms, avionics enclosures, and thermal management systems critical to vehicle performance and mission success.

This role demands a hands-on engineer who can move fluidly between detailed design work, first-principles analysis, hardware testing, and cross-functional collaboration. You will work closely with avionics, structures, propulsion, and GNC teams to ensure seamless integration of electromechanical assemblies into our next-generation vehicles.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight-critical electromechanical systems including actuators, deployment mechanisms, separation systems, valves, sensors, and thermal control devices from concept through flight qualification.
• Lead mechanical design and packaging of avionics enclosures, sensor mounting systems, and harnessing routes with consideration for mass optimization, thermal management, vibration isolation, and manufacturability.
• Perform detailed structural, thermal, and electromagnetic analysis using FEA and analytical methods to validate designs against spaceflight environments.
• Develop and execute comprehensive test campaigns including functional testing, environmental qualification (vibration, shock, thermal/thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC), life cycle testing, and acceptance testing.
• Create detailed engineering drawings, assembly procedures, interface control documents (ICDs), and design specifications.
• Work hands-on with fabrication, assembly, and integration teams to build, troubleshoot, and iterate on hardware rapidly.
• Drive design reviews and present technical trade studies to inform architecture and component selection decisions.
• Collaborate with electrical engineers to optimize PCB layouts, connector selections, and cable routing for reliability and performance.
• Coordinate with suppliers and vendors for custom component procurement, ensuring adherence to schedule and technical requirements.
• Support vehicle integration activities and provide technical expertise during assembly, test, and launch operations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Typically, 5+ years of professional experience designing and testing electromechanical systems for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications.
• Strong mechanical design skills with proficiency in 3D CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar).
• Hands-on experience with structural and thermal analysis using FEA tools (Ansys, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability 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.
• Proven track record of delivering hardware from concept to flight or equivalent high-stakes deployment.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• 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 with 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/shielding design principles.
• Proficiency with scripting languages (Python, 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.

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

Pay and benefits

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.

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.