Staff Aerothermal CFD 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

• 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

Requirements

• 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.
• ITAR Compliance:
• Equal Employment Opportunity:
• Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientat

Benefits

Additional Information

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

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