Senior Dynamics Engineer

Inversion; United States; On-site; USD 137,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion is seeking a Senior Dynamics Engineer to own loads, structural dynamics, and multibody dynamics analyses for an advanced reentry vehicle. You will work across architecture, structures, mechanisms, and test to define dynamic environments and validate performance through analysis and hardware correlation.

Join a fast-paced mechanical team reporting to the Director of Mechanical in Playa Vista, CA. Inversion values rigorous analysis, cross-functional collaboration, and delivering

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years in loads, structural dynamics, multibody dynamics for aerospace/defense.
• Strong fundamentals in rigid-body dynamics, vibration, and transient response.
• Experience with multibody dynamics for mechanisms and deployment systems.
• Ability to define mechanical loads and dynamic environments for flight hardware.
• Proficiency with FEA/MD tools: ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN; motion tools: ANSYS Motion, Adams.

Responsibilities

• Own development of vehicle loads, structural dynamics, and multibody dynamics analyses from architecture through hardware realization.
• Define and mature load cases and dynamic environments for launch, shock, vibration, separation, deployment.
• Develop and maintain multibody dynamics models to evaluate separation events and mechanism-driven behaviors.
• Translate analysis results into design requirements and interface loads.
• Support development of structural dynamics models: modal characterization and transient response.
• Drive dynamic trade studies on mechanism architecture, deployment, and structural response.
• Define test objectives, instrumentation needs, and correlation plans for tests.
• Correlate simulation results to test data and refine models and design recommendations.
• Present progress and risks in design reviews and cross-functional forums.
• Operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous development environment.

Skills

Loads analysis

Structural dynamics

Multibody dynamics

Vibration analysis

Modeling & simulation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in AE/ME or related

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 vehicleloads, structural dynamics, and multibody dynamics analysesfrom early architecture through hardware realization
• Define and matureload cases and dynamic environments, including launch, shock, vibration, separation, deployment, and other transient mechanical events
• Develop andmaintainmultibody dynamics modelsto evaluate separation eventsand other critical mechanism-driven vehicle behaviors
• Partner closely with structures and mechanisms engineers to translate dynamic analysis results intodesign requirements, sizing inputs, interface loads, and architecture decisions
• Support development ofstructural dynamics models, including modal characterization, transient response, and dynamic load prediction for flight hardware
• Drive dynamic trade studies to evaluatemechanism architecture, deployment performance, structural response, and system sensitivityunder uncertain and evolving design conditions
• Help definetestobjectives, instrumentation needs, and correlation plansfor 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 indesign reviews and cross-functional program forums
• Operate effectively in afast-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
• Typically5+ years of professional experiencein loads, structural dynamics, multibody dynamics, or related analysis for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications
• Strong fundamentals inrigid-body dynamics, structural dynamics, vibration, transient response, and mechanical system behavior
• Experience developing and applyingmultibody dynamics modelsfor mechanisms, deployment systems, separation events, or other complex dynamic hardware
• Experience defining and evaluatingmechanical loads and dynamic environmentsfor flight hardware or other high-consequence systems
• Familiarity with finite element analysis tools such asANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, FEMAP, or equivalent, with emphasis onmodal, transient, and dynamic structural analysis
• Experience with multibody dynamics tools such asANSYS 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
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, a related field, or equivalent experience
• Experience owning bothloads / structural dynamics and multibody dynamics analysisfor a vehicle or mechanism development program
• Experience withdeployment mechanisms, separation systems, release events, or payload delivery systems
• Experience generatingdesign loads and dynamic requirementsused to size structures, mechanisms, and interfaces
• Experience supportingtest planning, instrumentation definition, model correlation, and post-test analysis
• Experience in the design, analysis, or test ofqualified flight hardware
• Experience working on first-of-kind or highly integrated aerospace systems in anambiguous, fast-moving development environment
• Experience scripting or automating analysis workflows usingPython, MATLAB, or similar tools

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 $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.

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.

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.