Senior Dynamics Engineer

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

Job summary

Inversion in Playa Vista, CA is seeking a Senior Dynamics Engineer to own loads, structural dynamics, and multibody dynamics analyses across vehicle architecture and hardware realization. You will work with the Mechanical team under the Director of Mechanical to define critical dynamic environments and validate performance through analysis and hardware correlation.

The role requires a 5+ year background in aerospace dynamics, experience with ANSYS or similar tools, and strong cross‑functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, a related field, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 5+ years of professional experience in loads, structural dynamics, multibody dynamics, or related analysis.
• Strong fundamentals in rigid‑body dynamics, structural dynamics, vibration, transient response, and mechanical system behavior.
• Experience developing and applying multibody dynamics models for mechanisms, deployment systems, separation events, or other complex dynamic hardware.
• Familiarity with finite element analysis tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, FEMAP, or equivalent.
• Experience with multibody dynamics tools such as ANSYS Motion, Adams, RecurDyn, Simpack, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Own development of vehicle loads, structural dynamics, and multibody dynamics analyses from early architecture through hardware realization.
• Define and mature load cases and dynamic environments, including launch, shock, vibration, separation, deployment, and other transient mechanical events.
• Develop and maintain multibody dynamics models to evaluate separation events and other critical mechanism‑driven vehicle behaviors.
• Partner closely with structures and mechanisms engineers to translate dynamic analysis results into design requirements, sizing inputs, interface loads, and architecture decisions.
• Support development of structural dynamics models, including modal characterization, transient response, and dynamic load prediction for flight hardware.
• Drive dynamic trade studies to evaluate mechanism architecture, deployment performance, structural response, and system sensitivity under uncertain and evolving design conditions.
• Help define test objectives, instrumentation needs, and correlation plans for mechanism, structural, and dynamic development tests.
• Correlate simulation results to test data and refine models, assumptions, and design recommendations based on hardware learnings.
• Present analysis progress, technical risks, and recommended paths forward in design reviews and cross‑functional program forums.
• Operate effectively in a fast‑paced, ambiguous development environment, balancing model fidelity, engineering judgment, and schedule needs.

Skills

Rigid-body dynamics

Structural dynamics

Multibody dynamics

Vibration

Modal analysis

Flight hardware experience

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Engineering Mechanics

Equivalent technical experience

Master’s degree

Tools

ANSYS

Abaqus

NASTRAN

FEMAP

ANSYS Motion

Adams

RecurDyn

Simpack

MATLAB/Simulink

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

As a Senior Dynamics Engineer at Inversion, you will own the development of loads, structural dynamics, and multibody dynamics analyses for one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. You’ll work across vehicle architecture, structures, mechanisms, and test to define critical dynamic environments, mature structural and deployment system designs, and validate key aspects of vehicle performance through analysis and hardware correlation.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the dynamic behavior of a new aerospace vehicle from early concept through qualification and production. You will be a key member of the Mechanical team, reporting to the Director of Mechanical.

Key Responsibilities

• Own development of vehicle loads, structural dynamics, and multibody dynamics analyses from early architecture through hardware realization
• Define and mature load cases and dynamic environments, including launch, shock, vibration, separation, deployment, and other transient mechanical events
• Develop and maintain multibody dynamics models to evaluate separation events and other critical mechanism‑driven vehicle behaviors
• Partner closely with structures and mechanisms engineers to translate dynamic analysis results into design requirements, sizing inputs, interface loads, and architecture decisions
• Support development of structural dynamics models, including modal characterization, transient response, and dynamic load prediction for flight hardware
• Drive dynamic trade studies to evaluate mechanism architecture, deployment performance, structural response, and system sensitivity under uncertain and evolving design conditions
• Help define test objectives, instrumentation needs, and correlation plans for mechanism, structural, and dynamic development tests
• Correlate simulation results to test data and refine models, assumptions, and design recommendations based on hardware learnings
• Present analysis progress, technical risks, and recommended paths forward in design reviews and cross‑functional program forums
• Operate effectively in a fast‑paced, ambiguous development environment, balancing model fidelity, engineering judgment, and schedule needs

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, a related field, or equivalent technical experience
• Typically 5+ years of professional experience in loads, structural dynamics, multibody dynamics, or related analysis for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications
• Strong fundamentals in rigid‑body dynamics, structural dynamics, vibration, transient response, and mechanical system behavior
• Experience developing and applying multibody dynamics models for mechanisms, deployment systems, separation events, or other complex dynamic hardware
• Experience defining and evaluating mechanical loads and dynamic environments for flight hardware or other high‑consequence systems
• Familiarity with finite element analysis tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, FEMAP, or equivalent, with emphasis on modal, transient, and dynamic structural analysis
• Experience with multibody dynamics tools such as ANSYS Motion, Adams, RecurDyn, Simpack, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar
• Demonstrated ability to work cross‑functionally with design, structures, manufacturing, and test teams to turn analysis into sound hardware decisions
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, a related field, or equivalent experience
• Experience owning both loads/structural dynamics and multibody dynamics analysis for a vehicle or mechanism development program
• Experience with deployment mechanisms, separation systems, release events, or payload delivery systems
• Experience generating design loads and dynamic requirements used to size structures, mechanisms, and interfaces
• Experience supporting test planning, instrumentation definition, model correlation, and post‑test analysis
• Experience in the design, analysis, or test of qualified flight hardware
• Experience working on first‑of‑kind or highly integrated aerospace systems in an ambiguous, fast‑moving development environment
• Experience scripting or automating analysis workflows using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools

Location

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in‑office presence.

Salary

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

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 requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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.