Staff Special Projects Engineer

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• In this role, you will:
• Partner directly with the CTO to conceive, architect, and develop new hypersonic and reentry vehicle concepts and technologies.
• Lead the system-level design and performance modeling of advanced flight systems, including trajectory analysis, GNC trade studies, and overall vehicle performance optimization.
• Create conceptual and detailed CAD models for proposed systems and subsystems as part of early-stage proposals and design efforts.
• Translate high-level product ideas into executable proposals that win contracts and enable new technology development within Inversion.
• Build, test, and iterate - from running 6DOF simulations to hands-on prototyping and experimental validation - in a fast, skunkworks-style environment.
• Operate independently, make hard technical decisions under uncertainty, and drive ideas to reality without waiting for permission or perfect data.
• Required Qualifications:
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace engineering, with a focus on system-level vehicle design, analysis, and integration.
• Demonstrated experience designing and modeling hypersonic, reentry, or launch vehicle systems.
• Strong foundation in flight dynamics, aerothermodynamics, GNC, and trajectory/performance analysis.
• Proficiency in CAD and mechanical design for aerospace applications.
• Proven ability to take an idea from zero to one - designing, prototyping, and validating hardware from scratch.
• A track record of self-directed, high-ownership work - whether through startups or projects.
• Deep first-principles reasoning skills; ability to move fluidly between conceptual thinking and detailed engineering.
• Must be able to work fully onsite and thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguity-rich environment.

Requirements

• Prior experience in hypersonics, reentry systems, or rocket vehicle design and development.
• Familiarity with 6DOF modeling, simulation environments, and control system analysis.
• Background founding or being an early team member in startup teams where autonomy and execution were critical to success.
• Experience with multi-disciplinary integration of mechanical, thermal, and aerodynamic systems.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly prototype and test unconventional solutions.
• Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.
• ITAR Compliance:
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulati

Benefits

Additional Information

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

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