Senior Propulsion Development Engineer

Employer description

Advanced Reentry Technologies

Who We Are:

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology to enable next-generation capabilities from space. By combining high-performance materials, precision aerodynamics, and mission-driven autonomy, Inversion is transforming reentry into an operational capability for an entirely new class of missions.

The company’s highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and other national security missions that require precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere. Arc creates an entirely new transportation domain, unlocking unprecedented speed and global reach.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling the company to move rapidly from concept to flight. The company is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with customers across the U.S. government and commercial space industry.

Position Overview:

As a Senior Propulsion Development Engineer at Inversion, you will design, build, and test liquid and gas propulsion systems for our next-generation Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle, with an emphasis on Attitude Control System (ACS) thrusters, fluid feed systems, and propulsion components. You will own the mechanical design and analysis of fluid networks, manage hardware fabrication, author test plans, procedures, and reports, and lead hot-fire test campaigns. You will work cross-functionally with structures, avionics, software, and test teams to physically integrate propulsion hardware into the vehicle and verify system performance against mission requirements. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Design and analyze propulsion systems, including ACS thrusters, fluid feed systems, and high-pressure fluid networks.
• Create mechanical designs, CAD layouts, and fluid line routing for propulsion hardware.
• Lead hardware fabrication, integration, and troubleshooting of propulsion components and systems.
• Author test plans, procedures, and reports, and lead hot-fire and propulsion test campaigns.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with structures, avionics, software, and test teams to integrate hardware and verify system performance.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience. 
• Typically 5+ years of hands-on experience in the design, build, and testing of high-pressure fluid or rocket/spacecraft propulsion systems. 
• Expertise using CAD software (Siemens NX or equivalent) for mechanical packaging and fluid line routing. 
• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural mechanics, and materials compatibility. 
• Experience working hands-on with high-pressure fluid components, plumbing (tubing, fittings, manifold blocks), and pneumatic systems. 
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to write detailed test and hazard procedures. 
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Direct experience with spacecraft Attitude Control Systems (ACS), cold-gas, warm-gas, or monopropellant/bipropellant thruster systems. 
• Familiarity with high-pressure gas system operations, nitrogen/helium systems, and safety-critical hazard controls. 
• Experience with ANSYS Mechanical or equivalent FEA software. 
• Experience using Python, MATLAB, or GFSSP for fluid system analysis. 
• Prior experience performing acceptance and qualification testing of propulsion components or systems in accordance with standards such as SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000A. 
• Prior experience in a fast-paced aerospace startup, collegiate rocket/propulsion team, or small independent hardware team. 

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 $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. 

ITAR Compliance: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.     Equal Employment Opportunity: Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability.     Inversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.  If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Notice for further details.