Senior Propulsion Development Engineer
at Inversion
- Seniority
- Senior
- Location
- Playa Vista, California, United States
- Posted
- 5d ago
pythonspark
at Inversion
<div class="content-intro"><p><strong>Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth</strong></p></div><h3>Who We Are:</h3> <p>Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space.<br> <br>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.<br> <br>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.<br> <br>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.</p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Strong">What You'll Do</span></span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">As a </span><span data-contrast="auto">Senior Propulsion Development Engineer</span><span data-contrast="auto"> 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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Strong">Required Qualifications</span></span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)"><span class="TextRun BCX8 SCXO47125644" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX8 SCXO47125644">Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Typically</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)"> </span><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">5</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">+ years of hands-on experience in the design, build, and testing of high-pressure fluid or rocket/spacecraft propulsion systems.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Expertise using</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)"> CAD software (Siemens NX or equivalent) for mechanical packaging and fluid line routing.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Strong foundation in</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)"> fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural mechanics, and materials compatibility.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Experience working hands-on with high-pressure fluid components, plumbing (tubing, fittings, manifold blocks), and pneumatic systems.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to write detailed test and hazard procedures.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Strong">Desired Qualifications</span></span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Direct experience with spacecraft Attitude Control Systems (ACS), cold-gas, warm-gas, or monopropellant/bipropellant thruster systems.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Familiarity with high-pressure gas system operations, nitrogen/helium systems, and safety-</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">critical hazard controls.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Experi</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">e