Director of Engineering, Manufacturing

The role

The Director of Engineering, Manufacturing will own the full manufacturing ecosystem including precision machining, harnessing, mechanical assembly, and parachute systems. This leader will build and scale an aerospace manufacturing organization to support flight hardware at increasing production rates.

What you will do

• Transition programs from development to repeatable production
• Define make vs. buy strategy across all subsystems
• Drive capacity planning, rate readiness, and production forecasting
• 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
• Oversee precision CNC machining operations
• Ensure alignment between manufacturing engineering and shop floor execution
• Build and lead a high-performing manufacturing organization

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

Nice to have

• 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)

About the company

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof.