Senior Tooling Engineer
Inversion· startup· Aerospace & Defense· Aug 13, 2026 · 3mo agoPosted 75 days ago
Playa Vista, California, United States
In office
Full-time
Senior
$137K–$193K
2+ years exp
Before you apply
Ghost Signal:
Open 75 days.
Job description
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:
At Inversion, development speed and scalable systems depend on robust, practical tooling that makes assembly and integration repeatable. As a Tooling Engineer II focused on TPS, you will design the tooling that is critical to successfully manufacturing, forming, machining and integrating thermal protection materials. You will work closely with materials engineers, technicians, and manufacturing teams to create tooling that is simple, durable, and effective across demanding thermal processes. In this role, you will:
Lead the design of tooling used at each stage of the manufacturing and integration process for TPS materials from initial concept through fabrication.
Design layup molds, winding mandrels, and forming tools for parts with complex curvature accounting for elevated-temperature processing, tool-to-part CTE mismatch, and tool life
Design tooling that supports thin, curved, and fragile parts through machining, trimming, and drilling
Generate detailed CAD, drawings, and fabrication packages for internal and external build
Work directly with technicians and manufacturing teams to improve ergonomics, repeatability, and process flow
Coordinate with outside vendors and internal machine shop resources to fabricate and modify tooling quickly
Improve tooling designs through hands-on iteration during material development and hardware build
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience
2+ years of applicable experience designing and fabricating tooling, fixtures, or support equipment
Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software
Strong GD&T, drawing creation, and tolerance fundamentals
Familiarity with machining, welding, fabrication, and common shop processes
Hands-on experience supporting manufacturing, assembly, or prototype hardware builds
Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills
Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience designing tooling for composite manufacturing, such as layup molds, cure tools, trim and drill fixtures, or bond fixtures
Experience designing mandrels for tape winding or filament winding, including extraction, breakdown, or collapsible features
Familiarity with tooling materials and construction for elevated-temperature service, such as Invar, tooling board, and composite tooling
Familiarity with vacuum bagging, oven, and autoclave processing
Familiarity with metrology, alignment tooling, or inspection fixtures
Experience working directly with technicians and production teams to refine tooling in use
Experience with rapid prototyping methods and quick-turn vendor fabrication
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. 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.
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