Test Engineer II

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are:  

Eras of humanity can often be defined by a dominant transportation mode - horse-drawn chariots, ocean-going boats, or aircraft. These were spurred by a small group of people rigorously focused on building technology to achieve faster access to more of the world.  We seek to usher in a new era of humanity defined by universal access to the whole globe free of borders and the presence of a routine way from space to Earth. To do this, we are building highly maneuverable re-entry vehicles that can loiter in orbit before precision landing back on Earth.

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.

• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.  

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.

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