Senior Aerodynamics Engineer

Hardware FYI; Vista (CA); Hybrid; USD 137,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Advanced Reentry Technologies seeks a Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to build and maintain aerodynamic databases across the full flight envelope, from hypersonic entry to terminal flight, integrating CFD, panel methods, and wind-tunnel data.

You will drive system-level simulations, support GNC and mission design teams, and develop automation tooling for database generation, while refining models with wind tunnel and flight-test data. This is an on-site Playa Vista, CA role.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent field.
• Experience with the aerodynamics of reentry, hypersonic, or lifting-body vehicles.
• Experience with uncertainty quantification and the definition of aerodynamic dispersions for Monte Carlo simulation.
• Experience reconciling aerodynamic models against flight test data, including aerodynamic parameter identification.
• Familiarity with Fidelity Pointwise, Link3D, or equivalent meshing software for generating high-quality meshes.
• Experience with high-performance computing environments and large-scale CFD campaign automation.
• Experience with wind tunnel testing, including test planning, execution, and/or data reduction.
• Familiarity with 6-DOF flight simulation as a downstream consumer of aerodynamic databases.
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain aerodynamic databases spanning the full flight envelope, from hypersonic entry through terminal flight.
• Predict the aerodynamic forces and moments on reentry vehicles using high fidelity CFD tools across their flight envelopes.
• Apply lower-order tools to efficiently populate the broader envelope.
• Aggregate data of varying fidelity into coherent database products and define associated uncertainties to drive 3-DOF and 6-DOF simulations.
• Support downstream users across GNC, simulation, and mission design in applying the databases correctly.
• Build and mature the tooling and automation behind database generation and delivery.
• Refine models using wind tunnel and flight-testing data.
• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.

Skills

Hypersonic Aerodynamics

Uncertainty Quantification

Monte Carlo Simulation

Flight Model Calibration

6-DOF Flight Simulation

HPC & CFD Automation

Wind Tunnel Testing

Startup Experience

Education

MS/PhD in Aerospace

Tools

Fidelity Pointwise

Link3D

Job description

Advanced Reentry Technologies

Who We Are:

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.

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-demandlogisticsdomain. 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,operatingthrough extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, andoperatingat hypersonic speeds.

Inherentlydual-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 ofwhat'spossible in space-based defense andlogistics.

What You'll Do:

Inversion's reentry vehicles fly from orbital velocity to a precision landing, and everydesign decision,simulation,etc.along the way rests on an accuratecharacterization ofhow the vehicle flies. AsaSenior Aerodynamics Engineer, you will generate and database the aerodynamic characteristics of our vehicles across the full flight envelope, aggregating data from high-fidelity CFD, lower-order methods, and wind tunnel testing into database products that drive system-level simulations. In this role, you will:

• Develop andmaintainaerodynamic force and moment databases spanning the full flight envelope, from hypersonic entry through terminal flight

• Predict the aerodynamicforces and moments acting on Inversion reentry vehicles using high fidelity CFD tools across their flight envelopes.

• Apply lower-ordertools— panel codes, Newtonian aerodynamics, andhandbook methods— to efficiently populate the broader envelope

• Aggregate data of varying fidelity into coherent database productsand define associateduncertaintiestodrive 3-DOF and 6-DOF system-level simulations

• Support downstream users across GNC, simulation, and mission design in applying the databases correctly

• Build and mature the tooling and automation behind database generation and delivery

• Refine modelsusing windtunnelandflight-testingdata

• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.

• Must have the ability to obtain andmaintaina U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent field

• Experience with the aerodynamics of reentry, hypersonic, or lifting-body vehicles

• Experience with uncertainty quantification and the definition of aerodynamic dispersions for Monte Carlo simulation

• Experience reconciling aerodynamic models against flight test data, including aerodynamic parameter identification

• Familiarity with Fidelity Pointwise, Link3D, or equivalent meshing software for generating high-quality meshes

• Experience with high-performance computing environments and large-scale CFD campaign automation

• Experience with wind tunnel testing, including test planning, execution, and/or data reduction

• Familiarity with 6-DOF flight simulation as a downstream consumer of aerodynamic databases

• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams

Our office headquartersis located inPlaya Vista, CA. This position requires in-office presence.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $137,000-$193,000. 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.