Senior Thermal Structures Engineer
$137,000–$193,000 year
On-sitePlaya Vista, Estado de Chiapas, Mexico
Job Summary
Own the detailed mechanical design of heat shield components and assemblies, including TPS panels, hot substructure, and interfaces for maneuverable reentry vehicles. Perform structural and thermal-structural analysis from hand calculations through detailed finite element analysis, managing CTE mismatch and thermal gradients across joints. Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to design components fabricated in high-temperature composite systems, then define and support structural and thermal-structural testing from element-level verification through qualification. Develop part and assembly models, drawings, and GD&T to carry designs from concept through released engineering. This on-site role at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA, requires a Secret/Top Secret clearance and offers a base salary of $137,000–$193,000.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience in a related field
- Typically, 5+ years of experience in the mechanical or structural design of aerospace hardware
- Experience performing structural analysis of your own designs, including both classical hand analysis and finite element analysis (e.g., Nastran, Abaqus, Ansys)
- Experience with thermal-structural analysis, including thermally induced stress and deflection
- Strong fundamentals in strength of materials, structural mechanics, and the design of fastened and bonded joints
- Proficiency with 3D CAD sufficient to own detailed part and assembly design end-to-end, including drawings and GD&T
- Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, including prototyping and rapid iteration of new products
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance
- This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA
- 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
Desired Qualifications
- Experience designing high-temperature structures where thermally induced strains are a major design driver (hypersonic airframes , turbine engine hot sections, exhaust structures)
- Experience designing high-density TPS components from reinforced carbon/carbon, carbon phenolic, or ceramic matrix composites
- Experience designing hot-structure attachment schemes, such as expansion or slip joints, standoffs, flexures, and compliant interfaces
- Experience analyzing anisotropic and composite materials, including appropriate failure criteria
- Familiarity with the manufacturing constraints of composite or ablative materials, including machining, densification shrinkage, and inspection
- Experience designing or supporting thermal-structural test campaigns, including strain and deflection measurement at elevated temperature
- Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams
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