Director of Engineering, Manufacturing Playa Vista, California, United States

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are:

Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space. Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform — one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach. Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds. Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space-based defense and logistics.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Director of Engineering, Manufacturing to own all manufacturing at Inversion. This leader will be responsible for the full manufacturing ecosystem across the company — including precision machining, harnessing, mechanical assembly, and parachute systems.

You will build and scale a world-class aerospace manufacturing organization that is efficient, cost-effective, quality-driven, and capable of supporting flight hardware at increasing production rates.

You will drive operational excellence, production planning, workforce scaling, capital strategy, and process optimization across all manufacturing disciplines.

This role reports directly to executive leadership and will be a core member of the company’s technical leadership team.

Key Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Strategy & Scale

Transition programs from development to repeatable production

Define make vs. buy strategy across all subsystems

Drive capacity planning, rate readiness, and production forecasting

Operational Excellence

Establish lean manufacturing systems across machining, avionics, harnessing, and parachutes

Reduce cycle time, improve yield, and optimize throughput

Implement KPIs for safety, quality, cost, and delivery

Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions

Machine Shop & Fabrication

Oversee precision CNC machining operations (5-axis capability)

Ensure alignment between manufacturing engineering and shop floor execution

Drive programming standards, tooling strategy, and fixture optimization

Avionics & Harness Manufacturing

Implement scalable harness fabrication processes with strong QA controls

Improve repeatability and documentation for flight hardware

Develop production and inspection standards for parachute systems

Ensure quality and traceability for critical recovery hardware

Build scalable soft goods manufacturing capability

Build and lead a high-performing manufacturing organization

Develop frontline leaders and technical experts

Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and urgency

Partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Flight Operations

Infrastructure & Capital

Define capital equipment strategy and facility layout

Support facility expansion planning

Implement MRP/ERP and production tracking systems

Required Qualifications:

10+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, including leadership roles

Proven experience scaling hardware production from prototype to flight or production rate

Deep understanding of machining, assembly, and aerospace quality standards

Experience overseeing cross-functional manufacturing disciplines (electrical + mechanical)

Strong background in lean manufacturing and process optimization

Experience building organizations from the ground up

Familiarity with aerospace regulatory and quality frameworks

Ability to operate in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving priorities

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

Experience in launch vehicles, spacecraft, re‑entry systems, or high‑reliability aerospace hardware

Experience standing up new manufacturing facilities

Advanced engineering degree (Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or related field)

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $175,000 - $244,000 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.

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

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.

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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As set forth in Inversion’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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Worksite address

vista, CA, 92085, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.