Senior Ground Software Engineer

Senior Ground Software Engineer

Build and deploy the ground software stack to enable real-time space-vehicle operations

Location: Los Angeles, California

Compensation: $139,000 - 201,000 USD / year

About The Role

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

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.

What You’ll Do

As a Senior Software Engineer (Ground Software) at Inversion, you will have an instrumental impact on the interface and operation of our next-generation re‑entry vehicles. You will architect, build, and deploy software systems essential to the command and control of space vehicles. Working directly with Flight Software, Avionics, and Simulation teams, this role is responsible for delivering reliable, robust tools to direct and monitor vehicles and assets on the ground and in space. The result of this work is essential in enabling the world's first re‑entry vehicle designed for turning space into a transportation layer for Earth. You will be a key member of the Processing Core team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, Processing Core.

Key Responsibilities

This role spans the full lifecycle of ground software, from test infrastructure and simulation through qualification and mission operations:

• Develop intuitive software that enables real-time operation of space vehicles
• Design and own command and control systems
• Assist with the growth and development of the software organization, including conducting interviews and mentoring/onboarding other engineers and interns

In your first 6–12 months, you will take ownership of the ground software systems stack and deploy your solutions to support live development and space vehicles.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience building flight software or ground software with a Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, computer science, or equivalent experience
• Strong coding skills in a systems programming language (C, C++, Rust, etc.) and scripting languages (Python, Bash, etc.)
• Working knowledge of networking fundamentals and distributed systems concepts, including TCP/UDP, client‑server architectures, and networked debugging
• Strong familiarity with developing and deploying on Linux
• Experience developing, verifying, and deploying software at scale
• An innovative and optimistic approach to your work in a dynamic and uncertain environment
• Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA, and this position requires you to work onsite

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing, verifying/qualifying, and deploying mission critical software
• Familiarity with communications and RF fundamentals such as encoding, modulation, forward error correction, and common aerospace standards
• Experience building beautiful and intuitive user experiences and interfaces using frameworks like React, Angular, etc.
• Prior experience working in startups and small independent teams

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $139,000 - 201,000. 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.

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.