Senior TPS Technician

United StatesOn-site

Responsibilities

Fabricate, install, bond, and finish ablative TPS materials on flight hardware
Install, fit, trim, and repair ceramic and composite TPS tiles
Perform surface prep including sanding, cleaning, masking, and priming for TPS application
Execute bonding processes (adhesives, curing cycles, vacuum bagging where applicable)
Inspect TPS installations for defects, gaps, adhesion issues, and compliance to spec
Conduct rework and repairs on damaged TPS systems
Collaborate with engineering to refine installation processes and improve manufacturability
Maintain cleanroom or controlled environment standards where required
Document work performed and track hardware through build processes Required

experience in aerospace manufacturing, composites, or TPS-related work •
Experience working with ablative materials, adhesives, or high-temperature composites
Familiarity with precision hand tools, measuring equipment, and shop processes
Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and work instructions
experience with thermal protection systems (tiles, blankets, or ablatives) •
Experience with bonding processes, including adhesive selection and cure cycles
Experience working in cleanroom or controlled environments
Familiarity with NDI/inspection methods for bonded systems Physical Requirements
Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive manual tasks

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $46 - $61. 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.

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.
This role is critical to ensuring the integrity and performance of heat shield systems, including ablative materials and reusable tile-based protection.