Senior Aerodynamics Engineer - Reentry & Hypersonics

Inversion; California (MO); On-site; USD 137,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion seeks a Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to build and maintain aerodynamic databases for their reentry vehicles, spanning the full flight envelope from hypersonic entry to terminal flight.

You will validate forces and moments with CFD tools, apply panel methods, and aggregate heterogeneous data into simulation-ready products. The role requires strong programming in Python/MATLAB/C++, and an ability to work in a fast-paced startup-like environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years in aerodynamic analysis of aerospace vehicles.
• Experience with high-fidelity CFD analysis of compressible external flows (e.g., FUN3D, OVERFLOW, CART3D, US3D).
• Experience with panel codes and Newtonian/a modified Newtonian aerodynamics.
• Experience aggregating aerodynamic data from sources of varying fidelity into a database product used to drive simulations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain aerodynamic force and moment databases spanning the full flight envelope.
• Predict aerodynamic forces and moments using high-fidelity CFD tools across flight envelopes.
• Apply lower-order methods (panel codes, Newtonian aerodynamics) to populate the broader envelope.
• Aggregate data into coherent database products to drive vehicle simulation and design.
• Support downstream users across GNC, simulation, and mission design in applying the databases.
• Build and mature tooling for database generation and delivery.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

C++

Fortran

Aerodynamics

CFD

Uncertainty quantification

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

FUN3D

OVERFLOW

CART3D

US3D

Kestrel

Job description

Inversion seeks a Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to build and maintain aerodynamic databases for their reentry vehicles, spanning the full flight envelope from hypersonic entry to terminal flight.

You will validate forces and moments with CFD tools, apply panel methods, and aggregate heterogeneous data into simulation-ready products. The role requires strong programming in Python/MATLAB/C++, and an ability to work in a fast-paced startup-like environment.