Senior GNC Engineer

Inversion; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 199,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion in Playa Vista, CA is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer. In this role, you will design and implement control algorithms for high-speed reentry, develop state estimation techniques, and conduct reliability analyses for vehicles in extreme conditions.

Applicants should have a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering and 5+ years of experience in GNC. Proficiency in programming and strong communication skills are essential. This position requires in-office presence.

Qualifications

• Typically 5+ years developing GNC algorithms for high-speed vehicles.
• Strong understanding of control theory and dynamics.
• Proficient in programming for aerospace modeling and simulation.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement GNC algorithms for hypersonic reentry.
• Develop state estimation algorithms using IMU and GPS.
• Conduct Monte Carlo dispersion analyses for vehicle reliability.

Skills

Guidance and Control laws design

State estimation algorithms

High-speed vehicle operation

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C++

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 GNC Engineer at Inversion, you will report directly to the Senior Manager of Arc Vehicle Reentry. In this role, you will own the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithms that govern the hypersonic and supersonic phases of flight from reentry initiation down to main parachute deployment. You will design, model, and validate flight control laws, trajectory planning algorithms, and state estimation filters to safely maneuver through extreme aerothermal environments. Operating with high autonomy, you will build 6DOF simulation capabilities, evaluate control authority of flap actuators, and directly influence the vehicle’s aerodynamic shape and trajectory architecture.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and tune guidance and control laws for high-speed hypersonic and supersonic reentry.
• Develop robust state estimation algorithms, sensor fusion, and navigation filters utilizing IMU, GPS, and flight instrumentation.
• Build, maintain, and scale high-fidelity 6DOF modeling and simulation environments to evaluate flight performance, control authority, and trajectory dispersion.
• Analyze control‑structure interactions and manage mechanical actuator requirements for hypersonic flaps and control surfaces.
• Conduct comprehensive Monte Carlo dispersion analyses to prove vehicle reliability under aerodynamic, atmospheric, and mass properties uncertainties.
• Support the deployment and testing of GNC flight software in Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL) and Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) environments.
• Collaborate with aerothermal, structures, and flight software teams to optimize vehicle design trades and trajectory constraints.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 5+ years of professional experience developing, testing, and deploying flight GNC algorithms for high-speed vehicles (launch, reentry, hypersonic, or tactical systems).
• Strong fundamental understanding of classical and modern control theory, estimation algorithms, Kalman filtering, and rigid‑body dynamics.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, or C++ for aerospace modeling, simulation, and analysis.
• Experience with 6DOF trajectory simulation and Monte Carlo dispersion analysis.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to lead multi‑disciplinary technical trades.
• This position is on‑site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field with a focus on flight mechanics, controls, or estimation.
• Experience with flight control architectures for lifting‑body or maneuverable reentry vehicles (such as flap control or reaction control systems).
• Experience writing and testing GNC algorithms deployed to real‑time embedded or compute‑restricted flight computers.
• Familiarity with aerodynamic modeling, CFD aerodynamic database integration, and high-speed flight physics.
• Prior experience in a fast‑paced startup environment.

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 $139,000-$199,000. 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.