---
title: 'Mechanical Engineer - Summer Internship 2027 at Inversion'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-summer-internship-2027-inversion-playa-vista-9mpn8cr4xyyn'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-17'
---

# Mechanical Engineer - Summer Internship 2027 at Inversion

- **Company:** Inversion
- **Location:** Playa Vista, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-10-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/inversionspace/jobs/4743740005

## 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:

As a Mechanical Engineer Intern at Inversion, you will contribute to the development of mission-critical hardware for one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. You’ll work alongside experienced mechanical engineers to help take flight hardware, prototype systems, tooling, and integration equipment from early concepts to real, testable hardware.

This is a hands-on role for a highly motivated engineer who is excited to learn quickly, solve difficult physical problems, and see their work built and tested. You may contribute across the engineering lifecycle from CAD design and drawings to analysis, procurement, assembly, testing, and vehicle integration.

You will be a member of the Mechanical team and report to the Director of Mechanical.

## Key Responsibilities

- Support the design and development of mechanical systems including brackets, enclosures, mechanisms, tooling, and test equipment
- Create and revise 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and bills of materials
- Perform engineering analysis using a combination of first-principles calculations, hand analysis, and FEA to assess structural and thermal performance
- Support the planning, setup, execution, and documentation of hardware test campaigns, including functional, vibration, shock, thermal, and environmental testing as applicable
- Work directly with manufacturing, technicians, and integration teams to build, inspect, troubleshoot, and iterate hardware
- Help create and maintain engineering documentation, including assembly procedures, test plans and reports, interface documents, and design specifications
- Take ownership of well-scoped engineering projects while communicating progress, risks, and technical findings clearly

Required Qualifications

- Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline
- Demonstrated interest and aptitude in hands-on engineering through coursework, project teams, research, internships, personal projects, machining, robotics, rocketry, automotive, or similar experience
- Experience using 3D CAD software such as NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar
- Fundamental understanding of mechanical engineering principles, including statics, mechanics of materials, machine design, heat transfer, and material properties
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative, learn quickly, and work through ambiguous technical problems
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality engineering work
- Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively on a fast-moving, collaborative team

Desired Qualifications

- Prior experience designing, building, and testing complex physical systems including rocketry, CubeSats, robotics, Formula SAE, Baja, UAVs, marine vehicles, lab research, or personal projects
- Familiarity with GD&T, engineering drawings, tolerancing, and design for manufacturing and assembly
- Exposure to structural or thermal analysis tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar
- Experience with machining, sheet metal, composites, additive manufacturing, or other fabrication processes
- Familiarity with test instrumentation, data acquisition, or laboratory testing practices
- Passion for aerospace hardware and a desire to contribute to ambitious, real-world engineering programs

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence for the duration of the internship.

The California annual base hourly rate for this role is currently $38-$41. 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](https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987).

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](https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa) for further details.

## About Inversion

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Inversion builds advanced reentry vehicles to turn space into a global logistics network for Earth, enabling rapid, precise delivery of payloads anywhere on the planet.
- **Entity Type**: Private (funding stage: Series unknown; raised $44M from investors including Y Combinator, plus a $71M U.S. Space Force contract)
- **Headquarters**: Playa Vista, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Justin Fiaschetti and Austin Briggs

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aerospace & Defense – Reentry vehicles, space logistics, hypersonic delivery
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense, national security agencies, and future commercial logistics operators (B2G / B2B)
- **Mission**: “To make Earth radically more accessible by turning space into a global logistics network.”

## Products & Services
- **Ray**: Inversion’s first in-house developed spacecraft and reentry capsule, built to validate key subsystems for future vehicles. Developed by a team of 25 for under $1M.
- **Arc**: Flagship autonomous, reusable, low-cost space-based delivery vehicle designed to deploy payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour. Dual-use for defense and commercial applications.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $44M (led by Y Combinator and other investors) + $71M Space Force contract
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Y Combinator, Anduril Industries (partnered on space-based interceptors for Golden Dome), U.S. Space Force
- **Growth Signals**: 60-person team, 55,000 sqft facility in Los Angeles, dedicated test site in Mojave Desert, successful orbital flight of Ray, partnership with Anduril for Golden Dome program

## Competitive Advantages
- **Speed & cost**: Entire spacecraft developed by 25 people for under $1M – dramatically faster and cheaper than traditional aerospace.
- **In-house vertical integration**: Nearly every system (propulsion, avionics, thermal protection, parachutes) developed internally.
- **Dual-use focus**: Technology serves urgent defense needs while laying groundwork for commercial logistics.
- **Experienced founding team**: Former SpaceX (Raptor engine) and ABL Space Systems engineers.

## Strategic Focus
- **Immediate priority**: Deliver on the Space Force contract and Golden Dome partnership with Anduril for space-based interceptors.
- **Long-term vision**: Build a reusable, on-demand logistics network using Low-Earth Orbit to enable global delivery in under an hour.
- **Technical roadmap**: Scale reentry vehicle production, improve landing precision, and expand military and commercial applications.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes “talent density” and “extreme ownership” – a small, high-impact team where every engineer owns critical hardware flying in space.
- **Work environment**: Hands-on, fast iteration – rapid testing at Mojave test site, full machine shop, cleanroom integration facility, and parachute manufacturing on-site.
- **Hybrid / office**: Likely on-site heavy (engineering, manufacturing, testing); HQ in Playa Vista, CA.
- **Perks**: Generous parental leave, family and childcare benefits (per Built In).
- **Engineering culture**: Build and test own hardware; work across GNC, avionics, propulsion, structures, and simulation. 32 open roles on Greenhouse as of mid-2026.

## Sources
1. [inversionspace.com](https://www.inversionspace.com/)
2. [inversionspace.com/company](https://www.inversionspace.com/company)
3. [inversionspace.com/careers](https://www.inversionspace.com/careers)
4. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/inversionspace](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/inversionspace)
5. [builtin.com/company/inversion-space](https://builtin.com/company/inversion-space)

## Other roles at Inversion

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- [Avionics Mechanical Engineer - Summer Internship 2027](https://feeny.ai/job/avionics-mechanical-engineer-summer-internship-2027-inversion-playa-vista-g0crbm6p0qzj) — Playa Vista, CA
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