Test Engineer II (Accurate Landing)

Kindredventures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion, an aerospace startup based in Los Angeles, is seeking a Test Engineer to join the Accurate Landing Team. You will help design and validate high-performance reentry vehicles, define vehicle architecture, and lead ground and flight-test activities with safety as a priority.

Ideal candidates hold a relevant engineering degree, 2+ years of hands-on test experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Security clearance eligibility is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience testing hardware systems.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Test high-performance landing and recovery systems through ground tests and aerial drop tests.
• Develop and own test equipment, procedures, reports and analyses.
• Coordinate and lead flight-test day logistics and recovery.
• Coordinate test activities with external vendors and suppliers.
• Lead test operations with a strong emphasis on safety and accountability.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

2+ years hands-on test experience

Excellent verbal and written communication

Ability to work in a fast-paced startup

Security clearance eligibility (Secret/Top Secret)

Tools

Test equipment development

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.

What You’ll Do:

As a Test Engineer at Inversion, you will play a critical role in the design, functionality, and performance of our next-generation reentry vehicles. This is a unique opportunity to work on the early stages of vehicle design, including defining vehicle architecture and creatively solving new design challenges. You will be a key member of the Accurate Landing Team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, Accurate Landing. In this role, you will:

• Test high-performance accurate landing and recovery systems through ground test and aerial drop test campaigns.
• Develop and own relevant test equipment, procedures, reports and analyses.
• Coordinate and lead the logistics of flight test days and recovery.
• Coordinate test activities with external vendors and suppliers.
• Lead test operations with a high degree of safety, accountability, and responsibility.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Typically 2+ years of applicable hands-on experience testing hardware systems.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated history of test campaign ownership from cradle to grave.
• Experience with vehicle-level flight test campaigns and hardware qualification.
• Experience testing parachutes and airborne systems.

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 $106,000-150,000. 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.