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.

What You’ll Do:

Inversion’s lifting-body reentry platform will create a highly maneuverable, highly accurate, and low-cost vehicle that will be an industry-first. The Staff Aerothermal Engineer will be responsible for characterizing the aerothermodynamic environment on and around the vehicle with an emphasis on the rarefied flow regime. This role will be a key contributor to Inversion's advanced modeling efforts, and responsible for developing, improving, and implementing cutting-edge CFD tools and workflows. 

On a day-to-day basis, the staff aerothermal engineer will lead the creation of high-fidelity simulations, mentor team members, and act as the driving force behind our efforts to build confidence in our vehicle models. This is a unique opportunity to help define the CFD strategy for groundbreaking technology, creatively solve novel high-speed flow challenges, and play a pivotal role in the design of next-generation hypersonic systems.

Successful candidates will have a background in DSMC simulation or familiarity with multi-physics plasma environments, a passion for pushing those tools to their limits and the drive to extend them when the work demands it.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience 
• Typically, 9+ years of experience in hypersonic, supersonic, reentry, or rocketry external flow-field aerothermodynamic analysis
• Strong experience with high fidelity simulation of gas dynamics at conditions where inter-molecular forces must be considered (SPARTA, DAC, MAP, plasma simulation tools, etc.)
• Familiarity with Fidelity Pointwise, Link3D or equivalent meshing software for generating high-quality meshes suitable for a variety of simulations
• Strong knowledge of flows in thermal-chemical non-equilibrium
• Experience modeling mixed-regime flows such as plumes exhausting into rarefied flows.
• Experience integrating ground & flight test data into aerothermal vehicle models
• Proficiency in uncertainty quantification & relevant mathematical models
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, including prototyping and rapid iteration of new products

Desired Qualifications:

• Masters / PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent field.
• Experience modifying CFD solvers or coupling them for multi-physics simulations
• Experience with high temperature gas flow solvers (US3D, DPLR and/or LAURA)
• Experience with modeling radiative heating using radiation transport tools
• Experience conducting a comprehensive CFD campaign, from a vehicle’s early stages to the first flight
• Experience using programming languages like Python, Fortran, C++, MATLAB, etc.
• Involvement in planning, leading, and/or post-processing arc-jet tunnel campaigns 

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 $161,000-$221,000.  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.} 

• Design cutting edge thermal protection systems for Inversion’s Arc vehicle
• Organize development and qualification testing of TPS materials and installations
• Develop accelerated TPS integration methods to reduce manufacturing time
• Develop the analysis and design workflow of the flight heatshields for flight vehicles
• Explore trades between TPS materials and manufacturing methods
• Work with outside vendors, suppliers, and testing resources to bring new materials, capabilities, and processes in-house at Inversion

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Material Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Chemical Engineering OR equivalent experience in a relevant field
• Typically, 5+ years of professional experience working with, formulating, or producing materials for extreme temperature environments (Reentry, Rocketry, Hypersonics, Propulsion, Nuclear Power, etc.)
• Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• This role is onsite at our Playa Vista, California office

• Professional experience in design, testing, and integration of thermal protection systems for hypersonic or reentry flight vehicles
• Professional experience working with, formulating, or producing ablative or ceramic TPS
• Strong understanding of the fundamentals behind aerothermal heating of reentry vehicles, TPS production, and thermal environments of extreme temperature applications
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $150,000-$210,000.  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.  

#LI-FH1

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.

What You’ll Do: 
As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Inversion, you will play a critical role in the design, packaging, and rapid iteration of hardware across multiple spacecraft and hypersonic development programs. This role spans flight hardware, prototype systems, integration support, and tooling that helps programs move quickly from concept to build. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to solve hard packaging and manufacturability problems while driving designs toward real hardware. In this role, you will: 

• Design mechanical systems, structures, brackets, enclosures, mounts, and mechanisms across multiple spacecraft and hypersonic programs. 

• Own CAD models, drawings, release packages, and bill of materials for prototype and flight-like hardware. 

• Support prototype design, hands-on integration, fit checks, and issue resolution during build. 

• Provide additional tooling design bandwidth for assembly, integration, and test activities as needed. 

• Drive design trades across performance, manufacturability, schedule, and cost. 

• Work closely with manufacturing, test, supply chain, and technician teams to bring designs from concept through fabrication and integration. 

• Partner with outside vendors and suppliers to source parts, review manufacturability, and accelerate development. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience. 

• 5+ years of applicable experience in mechanical design, integration, and hardware development. 

• Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software. 

• Strong GD&T, tolerance stack-up, and drawing release fundamentals. 

• Experience taking hardware from concept through fabrication, assembly, and integration. 

• Familiarity with common aerospace fabrication methods including machining, sheet metal, welded assemblies, and prototype hardware builds. 

• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience with spacecraft, launch, reentry, hypersonic, or other high-performance aerospace systems. 

• Experience supporting prototype builds and rapid design iteration in a hardware-rich environment. 

• Experience designing tooling, fixtures, or support equipment for integration and test. 

• Experience using hand calculations and/or FEA to inform mechanical design decisions. 

• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams. 

_{The California annual base salary for this role is currently $137,000-$193,000. 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.} 

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.

What You’ll Do: 
As a Staff Optical Engineer at Inversion, you will own major elements of the optical systems that enable our vehicles to sense, navigate, and perform in extreme environments. You will lead the development of sensor windows, seeker architectures, and a variety of spectral camera systems from early trades through analysis, integration, and test. This is a unique opportunity to define the optical hardware for first-of-their-kind reentry systems and help ensure it performs when it matters most. In this role, you will: 

• Lead the development of sensor window and seeker design and analysis for Inversion flight systems. 

• Own the development of spectral camera systems, including architecture, component selection, integration, and performance trades. 

• Perform optical analyses including transmission, image quality, stray light, thermal effects, and environmental impacts on performance. 

• Work closely with mechanical, thermal, avionics, autonomy, and test teams to integrate optical hardware into flight systems. 

• Evaluate and select lenses, detectors, coatings, optical materials, and vendor solutions to meet mission requirements. 

• Assist in planning and execution of optical quality measurement tests and related validation campaigns. 

• Translate test and analysis results into clear recommendations that improve system performance and reduce risk. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience. 

• 9+ years of applicable experience designing, analyzing, and testing optical systems. 

• Experience with imaging systems. 

• Experience using optical design and analysis tools such as Zemax, Code V, FRED, or equivalent software. 

• Strong understanding of optical materials, coatings, sensor windows, and environmental effects on optical performance. 

• Experience planning and performing optical bench or lab testing. 

• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with high ownership. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. 

• Experience with aerospace, spaceflight, hypersonic, or reentry optical systems. 

• Experience with seeker design, boresight stability, MTF, radiometry, and stray light analysis. 

• Experience developing and qualifying camera systems for harsh environments. 

• Experience working directly with vendors to develop custom optical hardware. 

• Experience supporting environmental, field, or flight test campaigns for optical systems. 

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $161,000-$221,000.  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.   

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.

What You’ll Do: 
Ground test is how Inversion builds confidence in new reentry systems before flight. As a Ground Test Engineer II, you will lead and support critical test campaigns that shape vehicle design, validate models, and retire technical risk. This role will focus on arc jet testing, wind tunnel coordination, post-test data processing, and a broad range of additional ground test activities for reentry vehicles. In this role, you will: 

• Lead arc jet test campaigns from early planning through execution, post-test inspection, and data review. 

• Coordinate wind tunnel testing with outside facilities, vendors, and internal engineering teams. 

• Develop and own test plans, procedures, instrumentation layouts, reports, and analyses. 

• Process and reduce test data to generate clear technical conclusions and actionable recommendations. 

• Support additional ground test activities for reentry vehicles including subsystem, component, and integrated hardware testing. 

• Coordinate logistics, schedules, facility interfaces, and hardware readiness for external test campaigns. 

• Lead test operations with a high degree of safety, accountability, and responsibility. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience. 

• 2+ years of applicable hands-on experience testing hardware systems. 

• Experience with instrumentation, data acquisition, and post-test data processing. 

• Experience writing test procedures, reports, and technical documentation. 

• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• Capable of operating safely and effectively in fast-paced test environments. 

• Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience with arc jet, high-enthalpy, or hypersonic ground test campaigns. 

• Experience coordinating or executing wind tunnel tests. 

• Experience instrumenting hardware with thermocouples, pressure sensors, strain measurements, or other aerospace test sensors. 

• Experience using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for data processing and analysis. 

• Experience with aerospace qualification or development testing for flight hardware. 

The California annual base wage for this role is currently $106,000 - $150,000.  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.

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.

What You’ll Do: 
As a GNC Engineer at Inversion, you will support the development and validation of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control that enables precise reentry flight. You will work closely with senior engineers to improve our simulation and test infrastructure, validate sensor and actuator models, strengthen software quality through unit testing, and contribute directly to flight algorithm development. This is a unique opportunity to work on the early stages of a novel reentry vehicle and build the foundation for real flight performance. In this role, you will: 

• Support development of tools used to review, process, and visualize test data. 

• Support sensor and actuator model validation through analysis and correlation with test results. 

• Contribute to unit testing and software quality efforts for GNC code. 

• Support development and tuning of reentry flight algorithms. 

• Build modeling and simulation capability needed to evaluate algorithm performance and iterate quickly. 

• Work closely with flight software, test, and systems engineers to mature GNC architecture and implementation. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience. 

• 1+ years of applicable internship, research, or professional experience developing and testing GNC algorithms, controls, or dynamic system models. 

• Strong fundamental understanding of dynamics, estimation, and control. 

• Proficiency in programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, or C++ for simulation and analysis. 

• Experience with data analysis, scripting, and technical problem solving. 

• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. 

• Experience with Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, or state estimation. 

• Experience with sensor and actuator model validation or system identification. 

• Experience writing unit tests or working in software quality workflows. 

• Hardware in the Loop (HITL) or flight test data analysis experience. 

• Experience deploying code to embedded or compute-restricted systems. 

_{The California annual base salary for this role is currently $77,000-$116,000.} 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. 

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.

What You’ll Do: 
At Inversion, development speed and scalable systems depend on robust, practical tooling that makes assembly and integration repeatable. As a Tooling Engineer II, you will lead the design and fabrication of tooling used to assemble, handle, inspect, and integrate flight hardware. You will work closely with technicians, manufacturing, and design engineers to create tooling that is simple, durable, and effective, while also supporting specialized TPS tooling needs. In this role, you will: 

• Lead the design of assembly, handling, transport, and check tooling for flight hardware and development articles. 

• Own tooling from initial concept through fabrication, bring-up, and handoff to the production or integration floor. 

• Support TPS tooling design for development, installation, and integration activities. 

• Generate detailed CAD, drawings, and fabrication packages for internal and external build. 

• Work directly with technicians and manufacturing teams to improve ergonomics, repeatability, and assembly flow. 

• Coordinate with outside vendors and internal machine shop resources to fabricate and modify tooling quickly. 

• Improve tooling designs through hands-on iteration during hardware build and integration. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience. 

• 2+ years of applicable experience designing and fabricating tooling, fixtures, or support equipment. 

• Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software. 

• Strong GD&T, drawing creation, and tolerance fundamentals. 

• Familiarity with machining, welding, fabrication, and common shop processes. 

• Hands-on experience supporting assembly, integration, or prototype hardware builds. 

• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience designing aerospace assembly or integration tooling. 

• Experience with TPS tooling, molds, trim fixtures, bond fixtures, or other heatshield-related support equipment. 

• Experience working directly with technicians and production teams to refine tooling in use. 

• Familiarity with metrology, alignment tooling, or inspection fixtures. 

• Experience with rapid prototyping methods and quick-turn vendor fabrication. 

The California annual base wage for this role is currently $106,000 - $150,000.  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.