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Director of Engineering, Manufacturing at Inversion · Katori

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:

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

Parachutes & Soft Goods Manufacturing

Develop production and inspection standards for parachute systems
Ensure quality and traceability for critical recovery hardware
Build scalable soft goods manufacturing capability

People & Leadership

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)

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 $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.

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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