Senior Propulsion Development Engineer

Inversion; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion seeks a Senior Propulsion Development Engineer to design, build, and test liquid and gas propulsion systems for the Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle, with emphasis on ACS thrusters and fluid feed systems.

You will own mechanical design and analysis of fluid networks, manage hardware fabrication, and lead test plans including hot-fire campaigns while collaborating with structures, avionics, software, and test teams to ensure mission success.

Qualifications

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 5+ years of hands-on experience in design, build, and testing of high-pressure fluid or rocket/spacecraft propulsion systems.
• Expertise using CAD software (Siemens NX or equivalent) for mechanical packaging and fluid line routing.
• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural mechanics, and materials compatibility.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and test liquid and gas propulsion systems for Arc hypersonic vehicle, focusing on ACS thrusters and fluid feed systems.
• Own the mechanical design and analysis of fluid networks; manage hardware fabrication.
• Author test plans, procedures, and reports; lead hot-fire test campaigns.
• Work cross-functionally with structures, avionics, software, and test teams to integrate propulsion hardware and verify performance.

Skills

CAD (NX)

Fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Structural mechanics

Materials compatibility

High-pressure propulsion

Verbal & written communication

Pneumatic systems

Fabrication experience

Test planning

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS Mechanical

Python

MATLAB

GFSSP

Siemens NX

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 Propulsion Development Engineer at Inversion, you will design, build, and test liquid and gas propulsion systems for our next-generation Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle, with an emphasis on Attitude Control System (ACS) thrusters, fluid feed systems, and propulsion components. You will own the mechanical design and analysis of fluid networks, manage hardware fabrication, author test plans, procedures, and reports, and lead hot-fire test campaigns. You will work cross-functionally with structures, avionics, software, and test teams to physically integrate propulsion hardware into the vehicle and verify system performance against mission requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 5+ years of hands-on experience in the design, build, and testing of high-pressure fluid or rocket/spacecraft propulsion systems.
• Expertise using CAD software (Siemens NX or equivalent) for mechanical packaging and fluid line routing.
• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural mechanics, and materials compatibility.
• Experience working hands-on with high-pressure fluid components, plumbing (tubing, fittings, manifold blocks), and pneumatic systems.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to write detailed test and hazard procedures.

Desired Qualifications

• Direct experience with spacecraft Attitude Control Systems (ACS), cold-gas, warm-gas, or monopropellant/bipropellant thruster systems.
• Familiarity with high-pressure gas system operations, nitrogen/helium systems, and safety-critical hazard controls.
• Experience with ANSYS Mechanical or equivalent FEA software.
• Experience using Python, MATLAB, or GFSSP for fluid system analysis.
• Prior experience performing acceptance and qualification testing of propulsion components or systems in accordance with standards such as SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000A.
• Prior experience in a fast-paced aerospace startup, collegiate rocket/propulsion team, or small independent hardware team.

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.

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.