Senior Aerodynamics Engineer

Inversion•Los Angeles, CA

11d•$137,000 - $193,000•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience
Typically, 5+ years of experience in aerodynamic analysis of aerospace vehicles (reentry, hypersonic, missile, launch, or high-performance aircraft systems)
Experience with high-fidelity CFD analysis of compressible external flows (e.g., FUN3D, OVERFLOW, CART3D, US3D, Kestrel, or similar)
Experience with lower-order aerodynamic prediction methods, such as panel codes and Newtonian/modified Newtonian aerodynamics
Experience with handbook methods and empirical aerodynamic correlations
Experience aggregating aerodynamic data from sources of varying fidelity into an overall database product used to drive vehicle simulation and design
Strong fundamentals in compressible aerodynamics across speed regimes and in vehicle static and dynamic stability
Proficiency in programming languages like Python, MATLAB, C++, or Fortran for analysis tooling and automation
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.

Nice To Haves

Master's or PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent field
Experience with the aerodynamics of reentry, hypersonic, or lifting-body vehicles
Experience with uncertainty quantification and the definition of aerodynamic dispersions for Monte Carlo simulation
Experience reconciling aerodynamic models against flight test data, including aerodynamic parameter identification
Familiarity with Fidelity Pointwise, Link3D, or equivalent meshing software for generating high-quality meshes
Experience with high-performance computing environments and large-scale CFD campaign automation
Experience with wind tunnel testing, including test planning, execution, and/or data reduction
Familiarity with 6-DOF flight simulation as a downstream consumer of aerodynamic databases
Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain aerodynamic force and moment databases spanning the full flight envelope, from hypersonic entry through terminal flight
Predict the aerodynamic forces and moments acting on Inversion reentry vehicles using high fidelity CFD tools across their flight envelopes.
Apply lower-order tools — panel codes, Newtonian aerodynamics, and handbook methods — to efficiently populate the broader envelope
Aggregate data of varying fidelity into coherent database products and define associated uncertainties to drive 3-DOF and 6-DOF system-level simulations
Support downstream users across GNC, simulation, and mission design in applying the databases correctly
Build and mature the tooling and automation behind database generation and delivery
Refine models using wind tunnel and flight-testing data