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.} 

What you’ll do:

• Perform low/mid/high fidelity aerodynamic simulations of Archer eVTOL aircraft
• Develop linear/non-linear aerodynamic models to predict aircraft behavior and performance throughout the flight envelope
• Analyze experimental data (either from flight test or wind tunnel) to identify sources of model errors, validate, and improve aerodynamic models of the vehicle
• Develop efficient methods to feed flight test data back into aerodynamic simulation models of various fidelity and complexity
• Contribute to the development of Archer aerodynamic software stack, improving methods and workflows
• Coordinate with other cross-functional teams and pilots for flight simulator aerodynamic modeling updates and issue resolution

What you need:

• BS / MS / PhD in Aerospace Engineering or a related field

• 2+ years of experience with BS, or 1+ years of experience with MS, or 1+ years of experience with PhD modeling rotorcraft, tiltrotor, eVTOL aerodynamics at full-vehicle level
• Strong understanding of fundamentals of fixed-wing and rotorcraft aerodynamics, performance, stability & control 
• Experience in eVTOL and/or multicopter vehicle aerodynamics design and analysis, including 6 DoF vehicle trimming and trajectory optimization
• Experience with gradient-based and gradient-free optimization techniques
• Experience with surrogate modeling techniques (like Kriging methods) and statistical analysis
• Experience with experimental data processing and reduction techniques
• Proficiency in Python programming
• Experience with software development, object-oriented, version control best practices, as well as Git, CICD, Conda

• Excellent work planning and issue resolution skills
• Strong technical, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in groups and individually
• Experience in a fast-paced design environment

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience with developing, training, and optimizing neural networks or other machine learning models in the context of aerodynamic modeling
• Experience with wind tunnel and flight test campaigns planning, execution, and data processing, ideally matured on rotorcraft, tiltrotor, eVTOL program
• Work experience with rotorcraft comprehensive analysis tools, such as RCAS or CAMRAD2
• Work experience with NASA Overflow and Fun3D CFD software, including meshing
• Experience utilizing high-performance computing (HPC) to parallelize workflows

• Familiarity with conventional airplane Part 23/25 or rotorcraft Part 27/29 certification basis and test methods

• Familiarity with ASTM standards for fixed wing and rotorcraft
• Familiarity with Matlab/Simulink, and Fortran/C++ coding

At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possess the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s business strategy. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $140,000 - $190,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

What you’ll do:

• Design, implement, and maintain internal software libraries and applications as well as computing infrastructure to enable engineers to solve problems faster and more efficiently. Promote the use of shared computational infrastructure, tools, and practices across engineering teams within the Flight Sciences department.
• Develop processes and software tools to improve the reproducibility and traceability of computations. Drive the implementation of such tools.
• Promote a culture of software excellence across the engineering organization.
• Understand the needs of various engineering teams to efficiently utilize High-Performance Computing (HPC) resources, and make informed decisions on infrastructure solutions to ensure optimal resource utilization and cost savings.
• Maintain and administer on-premises HPC resources. 
• Advocate for engineering and computing needs with the company-wide IT department.

What you need:

• Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computational Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience as a user and developer of scientific/engineering software for flight sciences or similar disciplines (such as aerodynamics, acoustics, control, loads, thermal analysis, mass properties, vehicle simulation, etc.) in a fast-moving environment.
• Demonstrated experience in developing computing software and infrastructure, with proficiency in the scientific Python ecosystem (NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch, VTK).
• Demonstrated experience in standard best practices in software development, including version control, CI/CD, software testing, environment management.
• Demonstrated experience with the design and administration of HPC systems, either on-premise or cloud (AWS preferred). Knowledge of Linux administration, high speed network interconnects, parallel file systems, and MPI required.
• Experience with HPC management software (Slurm/PBS/Torque, OpenHPC/Bright, Warewulf/XCat, Spack/EasyBuild, Lmod).
• Good understanding of enterprise IT and common network security practices.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Bonus qualifications:

• Experience as an engineer in one or more of the following areas of aircraft design - aerodynamics, conceptual design, rotor/propeller design, vehicle simulation, loads and dynamics, structural design, stress analysis, GNC.
• Contributions to open source scientific software projects.
• Experience with MATLAB and Simulink.
• Proficiency in one or more compiled languages (e.g. C/C++, Fortran, Rust).
• Familiarity with databases (SQL, NoSQL, time-series) and database application design (ORM/ODM).
• Experience with software packaging (Pip, Conda, Spack) and containerization technologies (Docker/Singularity/Shifter) for scientific software.
• Familiarity with software configuration management tools (Chef/Puppet/Ansible).
• Familiarity with common CI/CD tools and practices (TeamCity/Jenkins, Artifactory, Docker, etc.).
• Experience with analysis tools and workflows for aircraft/rotorcraft design (aerodynamics, CFD, GNC, loads, structural analysis, CAD, mass properties, etc.).

At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent with the skills and leadership needed to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $162,800 - $217,600. Actual compensation offered will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.        

Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Quantum computing holds the promise of humanity’s mastery over the natural world, but only if we can build a real quantum computer. PsiQuantum is on a mission to build the first real, useful quantum computers, capable of delivering the world-changing applications that the technology has long promised.  We know that means we will need to build a system with roughly 1 million qubits that supports fault tolerant error correction within a scalable architecture, and a data center footprint.

By harnessing the laws of quantum physics, quantum computers can provide exponential performance increases over today’s most powerful supercomputers, offering the potential for extraordinary advances across a broad range of industries including climate, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials design, and many more.

PsiQuantum has determined the fastest path to delivering a useful quantum computer, years earlier than the rest of the industry. Our architecture is based on silicon photonics which gives us the ability to produce our components at Tier-1 semiconductor fabs such as GlobalFoundries where we leverage high-volume semiconductor manufacturing processes, the same processes that are already producing billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics applications. We also benefit from the quantum mechanics reality that photons don’t feel heat or electromagnetic interference, allowing us to take advantage of existing cryogenic cooling systems and industry standard fiber connectivity.

In 2024, PsiQuantum announced two government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first Quantum Data Centers and utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia and Chicago, Illinois. Both projects are backed by nations that understand quantum computing’s potential impact and the need to scale this technology to unlock that potential. And we won’t just be building the hardware, but also the fault tolerant quantum applications that will provide industry-transforming results.

Quantum computing is not just an evolution of the decades-old advancement in compute power. It provides the key to mastering our future, not merely discovering it. The potential is enormous, and we have the plan to make it real. Come join us.

There’s much more work to be done and we are looking for exceptional talent to join us on this extraordinary journey!

Job Summary:

Are you eager to revolutionize life sciences using the transformative power of quantum computing? As a Quantum Life Sciences Chemist, you will lead efforts at the intersection of quantum computing, computational chemistry, and biology, solving critical challenges in drug design, biomolecular modeling, and biological systems simulation. By integrating quantum algorithms with established life sciences methodologies, you will pioneer new approaches to address complex problems in pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, and bioinformatics. Join our interdisciplinary team to advance quantum-enabled innovations and shape the future of life sciences.

At PsiQuantum’s Quantum Solutions team, your role will focus on bridging the gap between fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) and established computational chemistry and life sciences tools. You will integrate these approaches with machine learning to explore novel workflows for quantum-informed drug discovery and biomolecular modeling. Your expertise in theoretical and computational chemistry will enable you to connect quantum-computed molecular insights with complex biological systems, driving advancements in drug design, biomaterials, and other critical areas within the life sciences.

This position requires a PhD in computational chemistry, biophysics, or a closely related field, preferably with postdoctoral research experience (although postdoc experience is not mandatory). We are looking for a curious, creative, and interdisciplinary thinker with a strong foundation in computational methodologies applicable to life sciences. The ideal candidate should be an avid reader of scientific literature, possess expert-level hands-on coding experience (e.g., Python, Fortran, C++), and have demonstrated skills in developing and applying computational techniques. Experience contributing to scientific software or modeling workflows is a plus. While prior knowledge of quantum information and fault-tolerant quantum computing is highly preferred, it is not required.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct innovative research, literature analysis, problem solving, and quantum workflow design in the areas of quantum-informed biomolecular modeling, drug discovery, and computational chemistry.
• Collaborate with quantum algorithm experts to identify areas where quantum computing can have the greatest impact in computational chemistry, biology, and life sciences.
• Contribute expertise in conventional (non-quantum-computing) algorithms to the development of in-house quantum algorithms. Serve as a technical lead in customer projects by collaborating with customers’ teams to integrate quantum computing-produced computational outputs into conventional life sciences workflows.
• Serve as a liaison between partner teams and PsiQuantum’s quantum information experts for innovative algorithm selection, development, and prioritization relevant to life sciences.
• Develop computational workflows that combine best-in-class conventional approaches (e.g., through high-performance computing (HPC)) with the breakthrough computational abilities of FTQC to reshape how quantum workflows are designed for life sciences applications.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in computational quantum chemistry and biomolecular modeling for PsiQuantum’s Quantum Solutions team, staying updated on recent academic literature, trends, and tools in life sciences.
• Foster collaboration across teams to maximize the impact of quantum algorithms and quantum computing-generated data in life sciences applications.
• Help shape external-facing materials that champion the applications of FTQC in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences industries (for key opinion leaders, media, and partners).
• Build and maintain external partnerships and collaborations on the topic, which can include meetings, group problem-solving sessions, or drafting research proposals, among others.
• Create organized internal reports and thoroughly document progress on assigned tasks.

Experience/Qualifications:

Required:

• Ph.D. in computational chemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics, or a closely related field, with a strong focus on computational methodology development, and 0 to 6 years of post-PhD (postdoctoral or industrial) experience.
• Hands-on experience with modeling and simulation of biological systems, such as protein-ligand interactions, enzymatic reactions, or biomolecular dynamics.
• Enthusiasm for working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and dynamic team environment.
• Expert-level Python coding skills with experience in scientific libraries relevant to life sciences.
• Proven ability to stay updated on recent academic literature and trends in computational chemistry and biomolecular modeling.

Preferred:

• Strong foundational knowledge of quantum chemistry methods (e.g., DFT, coupled cluster theory, or wavefunction-based approaches) and molecular simulation techniques as applied to biomolecular systems.
• Experience with free energy perturbation (FEP), molecular docking, or similar computational techniques for drug discovery.
• Experience with machine learning (ML) techniques in computational drug discovery, biomolecular modeling, or structural biology.
• Experience with coding GPU-accelerated molecular simulations.
• Familiarity with hybrid quantum-classical methodologies, such as QM/MM, applied to biomolecular systems.
• Knowledge of quantum embedding theories (e.g., DMET, embedded correlated wavefunctions) and their application to large, complex biomolecular systems.
• Hands-on experience with quantum computing or quantum algorithms, especially as applied to biological or chemical systems.
• General understanding of light-matter interactions or electronic excitations relevant to biological or chemical systems, such as energy transfer or photochemical processes.
• Familiarity with advanced quantum mechanical methods (e.g., CASCI, CASSCF) and their relevance to modeling enzymatic reactions or metal-containing biomolecules.
• Demonstrated scientific communication skills through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or collaboration with industry partners.
• Expert-level C++ or Fortran coding skills.

PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to recruiting@psiquantum.com.

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.