Senior GNC Engineer — Spacecraft Estimation & Trajectory

Inversion; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 161,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion seeks to turn space into an on-demand logistics domain and is hiring for an expert in state estimation and trajectory prediction to advance aerospace autonomy. You will develop and deploy estimation and tracking algorithms for external objects, train neural models, and integrate them into 3-DOF and 6-DOF simulation and flight software.

Ideal candidates have 9+ years of relevant experience, strong Python/MATLAB/C++ skills, and a track record with PyTorch or JAX.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
• 9+ years of experience developing and testing estimation, tracking, or GNC algorithms.
• Experience with behavior or trajectory prediction for autonomous systems.
• Proficiency with PyTorch or JAX and scalable model training.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for simulation and analysis.
• Strong communication skills; ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop state estimation and tracking algorithms for aerospace systems external to the vehicle, spanning cooperative platforms and non-cooperative objects observed only through onboard sensor measurements
• Model and predict the behavior of external systems, including maneuvering objects with uncertain intent
• Train, validate, and deploy neural network models for trajectory and behavior prediction, and integrate them alongside classical filtering approaches
• Develop probabilistic representations of external-object state and intent that downstream guidance and planning functions can consume
• Build the metrics, tooling, and datasets needed to quantify estimation and prediction error and drive systematic improvement
• Integrate estimation and prediction algorithms into 3-DOF and 6-DOF simulation and carry them through real-time flight software
• Work closely with the guidance, sensors, and simulation teams to close vehicle-level performance

Skills

State estimation

Tracking algorithms

Neural networks

Python

MATLAB

C++

Communication skills

Startup environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field

Master's or PhD in a related field

Tools

PyTorch

JAX

Kalman filtering

sensor fusion

Job description

Inversion seeks to turn space into an on-demand logistics domain and is hiring for an expert in state estimation and trajectory prediction to advance aerospace autonomy. You will develop and deploy estimation and tracking algorithms for external objects, train neural models, and integrate them into 3-DOF and 6-DOF simulation and flight software.

Ideal candidates have 9+ years of relevant experience, strong Python/MATLAB/C++ skills, and a track record with PyTorch or JAX.