Senior Tooling Engineer
$137,000–$193,000 year
On-sitePlaya Vista, Estado de Chiapas, Mexico
Job Summary
Lead the design of tooling for thermal protection systems from initial concept through fabrication, including layup molds, winding mandrels, and forming tools for complex curvature. Generate detailed CAD, drawings, and fabrication packages while coordinating with vendors and the machine shop to support manufacturing, assembly, and prototype builds. Work directly with technicians to improve ergonomics, repeatability, and process flow through hands-on iteration during material development. Requires a Bachelor's in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering, 2+ years of tooling experience, Siemens NX proficiency, and the ability to obtain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret clearance. This on-site role in Playa Vista, CA, supports Inversion's mission to turn Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics platform for national security and commercial applications.
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
- 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 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
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