Senior Propulsion Development Engineer

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: 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. Key Responsibilities: Design and analyze propulsion systems, including ACS thrusters, fluid feed systems, and high-pressure fluid networks. Create mechanical designs, CAD layouts, and fluid line routing for propulsion hardware. Lead hardware fabrication, integration, and troubleshooting of propulsion components and systems. Author test plans, procedures, and reports, and lead hot-fire and propulsion test campaigns. Collaborate cross-functionally with structures, avionics, software, and test teams to integrate hardware and verify system performance. Required Qualifications: 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. Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance. 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. Experi ence with ANSYS M echani cal or equi valent FEA softwar e . Experience using Python , MATLAB , or G FSSP for f luid system analysis. Pr ior e xperience performi ng ac ceptance a nd qualification testing of p ropulsion compo nents or sy stems in accorda nce with stan dards s uch as SM C-S- 016, GSFC -STD <span data-ccp-parastyle="Norm