Disclosed are invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells engineered using hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and methods of making and using thereof. Specifically, the engineered cells iNKT are genetically modified to contain at least one exogenous invariant natural killer T cell receptor (iNKT TCR) nucleic acid molecule. Further disclosed are iNKT TCR nucleotide sequences and codon optimized sequences for expression.