Staff Vehicle Engineer

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

Job summary

Inversion is hiring a Staff Vehicle Engineer to ensure subsystems converge into a high-performance vehicle. Responsibilities include leading subsystems integration and managing interface documents. The role demands 8+ years in aerospace engineering and offers a salary of $161,000 – $221,000 annually.

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, with preferred qualifications including a Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace. The position is based in Playa Vista, CA, requiring in-office presence.

Qualifications

• Typically 8+ years of experience in aerospace engineering, focusing on vehicle design and integration.
• Proven experience solving complex multi-system problems.
• Strong foundation in structural mechanics, thermal, avionics, GNC, or fluid systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration of vehicle subsystems.
• Manage interface control documents across all subsystems.
• Drive technical reviews and architecture-level design decisions.

Skills

Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Systems Engineering

CAD proficiency

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant field

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Inversion develops advanced reentry systems that enable on‑demand logistics from Low‑Earth Orbit. We deliver payloads to any location on Earth in under an hour, utilizing hypersonic reentry vehicles with high precision landing.

Who We Are

We are a team that builds next‑generation hypersonic reentry vehicles for national security and commercial use, partnering with the U.S. Space Force and NASA.

What You’ll Do

As a Staff Vehicle Engineer you will report directly to the Chief Engineer of Arc and serve as a technical anchor, ensuring all subsystems converge into a high‑performance, flight‑ready vehicle across structures, aerothermal, GNC, avionics, and propulsion.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross‑subsystem integration and resolve complex, multidisciplinary engineering bottlenecks across the Arc vehicle.
• Own system‑level trade studies balancing mass, power, thermal, aerodynamic, and structural performance.
• Define, manage, and enforce interface control documents (ICDs) and hardware‑to‑hardware interfaces across all vehicle subsystems.
• Own vehicle‑level requirements flow‑down, verification plans, and system‑level validation strategies.
• Partner directly with the Chief Engineer to drive technical reviews and make critical architecture‑level design decisions under uncertainty.
• Develop and maintain the vehicle master mass properties, volume budgets, and performance margins.
• Lead root‑cause investigations for complex, multi‑system technical anomalies during integration and testing.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 8+ years of experience in aerospace engineering, focusing on system‑level vehicle design, integration, and multidisciplinary analysis.
• Proven track record of solving highly complex multi‑system problems on launch vehicles, spacecraft, hypersonic systems, or reentry vehicles.
• Strong foundation in first‑principles engineering across structural mechanics, thermal, avionics, GNC, or fluid systems.
• Proficiency in CAD and mechanical design for aerospace applications.
• Ability to operate independently and drive technical clarity in highly ambiguous environments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Prior experience in hypersonics, high‑speed atmospheric flight, or reentry vehicle systems.

Location and Office Requirements

Our office is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in‑office presence.

Salary

California annual base salary for this role is currently $161,000 – $221,000.

ITAR Compliance

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, 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.

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.