Senior Flight Software Engineer — Space Reentry Vehicles

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 FlightSoftware Engineer at Inversion, you will have an instrumental impact on the design, functionality, and performance of our next-generation reentry vehicles. You will own a substantial aspect of the flight software stack that enables our spacecraft to complete its mission of extended operation in space, eventually returning on Earth to be recovered. Your impact will encompass all aspects of fight software, including commanding, telemetry, and implementation of control algorithms running on custom hardware that flies the world’s first reentry vehicle designed for turning space into a viable transportation layer for Earth. Key Responsibilities: Owningcriticalsoftwarecomponentsfor a new vehicle , frominitialconceptthough design, implementation, testing, anddeployment. Writing and testing software for spacecraft, including drivers, networking, fault management, and attitude control interfaces. Assisting in creating and executing tests, including HITL (hardware in the loop) and HOOTL/SITL (software in the loop) testing, integration testing, and unit testing. Assist ing with the growth and development of the software organization, including conducting interviews and mentoring /onboarding other engineers and interns. We’re a mission-driven team passionate about pushing the limits of space exploration. While there may be moments when the excitement calls for extended hours or weekend work, we prioritize creating an environment where our engineers feel inspired, supported, and constantly challenged to grow. Required Qualifications: 5 + years of software development experience with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. Experience working in a systems level language like Rust, C++, or C. Experience working in a Linux development environment. Experience with tools and processesrelatedtosoftwaredevelopmentsuch asversion control,code reviews, issue tracking,andCI/CD environments. An innovative and optimistic approach to your work in a dynamic and uncertain environment. Position may require occasional extended hours and/or weekend work. Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance. Desired Qualifications: Experience with safety critical systems or other fault tolerant systems. Familiarity with utilizing Python or similar language for testing and tooling. Hands-on experience developing, testing, and/or operating spacecraft, flight hardware, HITL (hardware-in-the-loop), flat-sats, and avionics systems. Experience collaborating with GNC engineers and developing interfaces to sensors (IMUs, GPSs, Star Trackers, etc.). Experience with networking concepts (TCP, UDP, Ethernet, etc.). Experience with low-level communication protocols (CANbus, UART, I2C, RS422/485, etc.). Familiarity with the Linux kernel and interfacing with it (kernel modules, device trees, etc.). Extra points for embedded Linux experience (Yocto,Build r oot, or similar). Prior experience working in startups and small independent teams. 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 $139,000 - $201,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here . Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability. Inversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Notice for further details. Create a Job Alert Interested in building your career at Inversion? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email. Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf LinkedIn Profile Website What are your base salary ($USD) expectations? If you’re currently outside a commutable distance, are you open to relocating to our corporate headquarters in Playa Vista, CA? * Select... Are you authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship? * Select... Were you referred to Inversion by a current employee? Select... If you were referred, please provide the name of the employee. 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. Do you meet the above criteria? * Select... Voluntary Self-Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file. As set forth in Inversion’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. 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