Staff Aerothermal CFD Engineer

Inversion Space Company; California; On-site; USD 161,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion advances hypersonic reentry technology with a focus on verified aerothermal modeling and CFD toolchains. The Staff Aerothermal Engineer will drive high-fidelity simulations and mentor teammates to ensure confidence in vehicle models, while expanding multi-physics capabilities for rapid iterations.

You will work on challenging flows, including rarefied regimes and plasma environments, ensuring compliance with ITAR and security requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Typically 9+ years in hypersonic, reentry, or rocketry external flow analysis.
• Experience with high-fidelity gas dynamics simulations considering intermolecular forces.
• Familiarity with meshing tools for high-quality CFD meshes.
• Knowledge of thermal-chemical non-equilibrium flows.
• Experience modeling mixed-regime plumes in rarefied environments.
• Ability to integrate ground and flight test data into models.
• Proficiency in uncertainty quantification and related math models.
• Proven, fast-paced prototyping and iteration capability.
• Eligibility to obtain US Secret/Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-fidelity aerothermal simulations for the vehicle.
• Mentor and guide team members in CFD workflow development.
• Drive CFD strategy and toolchain for groundbreaking hypersonics.
• Develop and extend multiphysics models and simulations.
• Incorporate test data to validate vehicle models and simulations.

Skills

Hypersonic aerothermal analysis

Gas dynamics simulation

DSMC/plasma tools familiarity

Mesh generation software

Thermal-chemical non-equilibrium

Mixed-regime flow modeling

Test data integration

Uncertainty quantification

Rapid prototyping

Security clearance (US)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Master's or PhD in related field (desired)

Tools

SPARTA

DAC

MAP

plasma simulation tools

Fidelity Pointwise

Link3D

Job description

Advanced Reentry Technologies

Who We Are:

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology to enable next-generation capabilities from space. By combining high-performance materials, precision aerodynamics, and mission-driven autonomy, Inversion is transforming reentry into an operational capability for an entirely new class of missions.

The company’s highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and other national security missions that require precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere. Arc creates an entirely new transportation domain, unlocking unprecedented speed and global reach.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling the company to move rapidly from concept to flight. The company is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with customers across the U.S. government and commercial space industry.

Position Overview:

The Staff Aerothermal Engineer will be responsible for characterizing the aerothermodynamic environment on and around the vehicle with an emphasis on the rarefied flow regime. This role will be a key contributor to Inversion's advanced modeling efforts, and responsible for developing, improving, and implementing cutting‑edge CFD tools and workflows.

On a day‑to‑day basis, the staff aerothermal engineer will lead the creation of high‑fidelity simulations, mentor team members, and act as the driving force behind our efforts to build confidence in our vehicle models. This is a unique opportunity to help define the CFD strategy for groundbreaking technology, creatively solve novel high‑speed flow challenges, and play a pivotal role in the design of next‑generation hypersonic systems.

Successful candidates will have a background in DSMC simulation or familiarity with multi‑physics plasma environments, a passion for pushing those tools to their limits and the drive to extend them when the work demands it.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Typically, 9+ years of experience in hypersonic, supersonic, reentry, or rocketry external flow‑field aerothermodynamic analysis.
• Strong experience with high fidelity simulation of gas dynamics at conditions where inter‑molecular forces must be considered (SPARTA, DAC, MAP, plasma simulation tools, etc.).
• Familiarity with Fidelity Pointwise, Link3D or equivalent meshing software for generating high‑quality meshes suitable for a variety of simulations.
• Strong knowledge of flows in thermal‑chemical non‑equilibrium.
• Experience modeling mixed‑regime flows such as plumes exhausting into rarefied flows.
• Experience integrating ground & flight test data into aerothermal vehicle models.
• Proficiency in uncertainty quantification & relevant mathematical models.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment, including prototyping and rapid iteration of new products.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Masters / PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent field.
• Experience modifying CFD solvers or coupling them for multi‑physics simulations.
• Experience with high temperature gas flow solvers (US3D, DPLR and/or LAURA).
• Experience with modeling radiative heating using radiation transport tools.
• Experience conducting a comprehensive CFD campaign, from a vehicle’s early stages to the first flight.
• Experience using programming languages like Python, Fortran, C++, MATLAB, etc.
• Involvement in planning, leading, and/or post‑processing arc‑jet tunnel campaigns.

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 $161,000-$221,000. 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.