Senior Mission Design Engineer - Space Logistics & Reentry

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

Job summary

Inversion is building advanced reentry systems to enable rapid, space-enabled logistics from Playa Vista, CA. As Staff Mission Design Engineer, you will own the mission design trade space from orbital insertion to precision landing, shaping design reference missions and flight envelopes for next-generation vehicles.

You will run performance sensitivity studies, support 3-DOF/6-DOF simulations, mentor teams, and collaborate with customers to define requirements and architectures for constellation

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Typically, 9+ years of experience in mission design, trajectory analysis, or flight performance for launch/reentry systems.
• Experience with trajectory optimization using industry tools (POST/OTIS/TAOS/Copernicus).
• Experience developing and exercising 3-DOF and 6-DOF flight simulations.
• Strong fundamentals in flight/orbital mechanics and atmospheric entry dynamics.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for simulation/analysis.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; customer-facing experience.
• Ability to obtain US government security clearance.
• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.

Responsibilities

• Develop design reference missions and flight envelopes for new vehicles.
• Lead performance sensitivity and trade studies informing vehicle design decisions.
• Support 3-DOF and 6-DOF Monte Carlo campaigns from dispersion definition to results synthesis.
• Collaborate with customers on constellation design and mission architecture.
• Translate customer needs into vehicle and trajectory requirements.
• Mentor engineers across mission design and simulation teams.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Mission design

Trajectory analysis

Flight simulations

Programming (Python/MATLAB/C++)

Communication skills

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

POST

OTIS

TAOS

Copernicus

Job description

Inversion is building advanced reentry systems to enable rapid, space-enabled logistics from Playa Vista, CA. As Staff Mission Design Engineer, you will own the mission design trade space from orbital insertion to precision landing, shaping design reference missions and flight envelopes for next-generation vehicles.

You will run performance sensitivity studies, support 3-DOF/6-DOF simulations, mentor teams, and collaborate with customers to define requirements and architectures for constellation