Autonomy Engineer I, Arc Vehicle

Inversion; California; On-site; USD 71,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion, an aerospace and defense innovator based in Los Angeles, seeks an Autonomy Software Engineer to advance vehicle-level autonomy and fault-management for high-performance reentry systems. You will work under senior engineers to develop and verify flight sequencing, state machines, and autonomous routines, validating them in SIL/HIL environments.

Join a team delivering mission-critical software in a strict regulatory context, with emphasis on robust testing, telemetry analysis, and clear

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field or equivalent experience.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python in Linux environments.
• Familiarity with FSMs, OO design, and event-driven architectures.
• Experience with Git, build systems, and debugging tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Implement and test vehicle-level state machines, flight sequencing, and mission autonomy routines in C++/Rust.
• Support development and verification of fault-detection, isolation, and recovery software modules.
• Set up, run, and evaluate SIL and HIL simulations to validate autonomous behaviors.
• Write unit tests, integration tests, and automated test scripts for flight software quality.
• Analyze telemetry and logs to troubleshoot software anomalies and state-machine transitions.
• Document autonomy logic, interfaces, and test results for system qualification.
• Collaborate with systems, GNC, and avionics engineers to define mission phases and automated hazard controls.

Skills

C++

Python

Finite State Machines

OOP Design

Event-driven programming

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Computer Engineering / Aerospace Engineering / Robotics

Tools

Git

Build Systems

Debuggers

Job description

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 n Autonomy Software Engineer at Inversion , you will implement, test, and verify vehicle-level flight sequencing, mission autonomy, and fault-management logic to high technical standards. Working under the guidance of senior engineers, you will execute software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations, debugging logic gates and verifying autonomous behaviors to prepare our vehicles for safe flight operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement and test vehicle-level state machines, flight sequencing, and mission autonomy routines in C++ /Rust .
• Support the development and verification of robust fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) software modules.
• Set up, run, and evaluate software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations to validate nominal and off-nominal autonomous behaviors.
• Write comprehensive unit tests, integration tests, and automated test scripts to ensure flight software quality.
• Analyze telemetry and log files from integrated test runs to troubleshoot software anomalies and state-machine transitions.
• Document autonomy logic, interface definitions, and test results to support vehicle system-level qualification.
• Collaborate with systems, GNC, and avionics engineers to define mission phases, command scripts, and automated hazard controls.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science , Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 1+ years of internship, academic research, or professional experience developing software for autonomous systems, robotics, or aerospace vehicles.
• Strong foundational programming skills in C++ and Python within a Linux-based development environment.
• Basic understanding of finite state machines, object-oriented software design, or event-driven programming architectures.
• Familiarity with standard software development tools such as Git, build systems, and debuggers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Basic understanding of real-time operating systems (RTOS), embedded systems, or hardware-software interfaces.
• Familiarity with spacecraft, launch vehicle, or UAV flight phases and operations.
• Demonstrated technical execution through collegiate engineering teams (such as Formula SAE, rocket clubs, or robotics design groups).
• Prior internship experience in a fast-paced aerospace or robotics startup environment.

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 $71,000 - $124,000. 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.

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 .

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.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Inversion’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.