Senior Propulsion Development Engineer

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

Job summary

Inversion is seeking a Senior Propulsion Development Engineer in Los Angeles to design, build, and test liquid and gas propulsion systems for the Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle. You will own fluid networks, oversee fabrication, and lead hot‑fire testing, collaborating with structures, avionics, software, and test teams.

You will apply CAD (Siemens NX), fluid mechanics, and propulsion expertise to meet mission requirements while supporting rapid development in a fast‑paced aerospace startup

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent technical experience.
• 5+ years in design, build, and testing of high‑pressure propulsion systems.
• Proficiency with CAD for mechanical packaging and fluid routing.
• Solid foundation in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical design and analysis of fluid networks for propulsion systems.
• Manage hardware fabrication, write test plans, procedures, and reports.
• Lead hot‑fire test campaigns and integrate propulsion hardware across teams.

Skills

Propulsion design

High‑pressure systems

Test planning

Documentation

Strong communication

Python/MATLAB basics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Siemens NX

ANSYS Mechanical

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 G FSSP for fluid system analysis.
• Prior experience performing acceptance and qualification testing of propulsion components or systems in accordance with standards such as SM C-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 CCAA Privacy Policy Notice for further details.