Principal TPS Materials Engineer

Inversion; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 244,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion in Playa Vista, CA, is seeking a senior materials engineer to lead development of ablative TPS materials for extreme environments. You will prototype at small scale, scale to flight, and collaborate with vendors and test facilities to deliver in-house capabilities.

The role emphasizes rapid iteration, hands-on fabrication automation, and mentoring engineers, with exposure to aerospace-grade materials and ITAR-compliant processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
• Typically, 12+ years of experience developing, formulating, or producing materials for extreme temperature environments.
• Experience with carbon phenolic ablators, reinforced carbon/carbon, or refractory ceramic matrix composites.
• Experience with material characterization testing across a wide temperature range.
• Experience prototyping and scaling material fabrication processes.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with rapid iteration.
• On-site requirement at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA and ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop new ablative TPS material formulations optimized for performance and cost.
• Characterize material response across harsh thermal environments.
• Prototype material fabrication at small scale and mature toward flight quality.
• Automate fabrication at large scale using advanced manufacturing methods.
• Plan and execute material characterization campaigns across a wide temperature range.
• Collaborate with vendors, test facilities, and suppliers to bring capabilities in-house.
• Mentor senior and early-career engineers across the organization.

Skills

Materials formulation

Materials testing

Prototype fabrication

Fabrication automation

Vendor collaboration

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science or related field

PhD in Materials Science or related field

Tools

FIAT

CHAR

PATO

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are

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.

What You'll Do

• Develop new ablative TPS material formulations optimized for performance and cost
• Characterize material response across harsh thermal environments
• Prototype material fabrication at small scale and mature it toward flight quality
• Automate fabrication at large scale, drawing on composite manufacturing methods such as automated tape winding, mandrel tooling design, and elevated-temperature curing
• Plan and execute material characterization campaigns spanning thermal response testing and mechanical property testing across a wide temperature range
• Work with outside vendors, test facilities, and suppliers to bring new materials, capabilities, and processes in-house at Inversion
• Mentor senior and early-career engineers across the organization

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience in a relevant field
• Typically, 12+ years of professional experience developing, formulating, or producing materials for extreme temperature environments
• Experience with at least one of: carbon phenolic ablators, reinforced carbon/carbon, or refractory ceramic matrix composites
• Experience with material characterization testing, including both thermal response testing and material strength testing across a wide temperature range
• Experience prototyping and scaling material fabrication processes
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, including prototyping and rapid iteration of new products
• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science or a related field
• Hands-on background with woven, felted, or needled high-temperature fiber preforms and material architectures
• Experience organizing and executing arc jet material response test campaigns
• Experience with large-scale composite manufacturing automation (automated tape laying/winding, filament winding, mandrel tooling, autoclave or oven cure development)
• Experience with ablation and thermal response modeling tools (e.g., FIAT, CHAR, PATO)
• Experience with thermophysical and thermochemical property measurement (TGA/DSC, laser flash, dilatometry)
• Experience taking a new material from laboratory formulation through qualification for flight
• Familiarity with non-destructive evaluation methods for composite and ablative structures
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $175,000-$244,000. 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.