Senior Regulatory Engineer

Senior Regulatory Engineer

Playa Vista, California, United States

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are:

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 Will Do:

As a Senior Regulatory Engineer at Inversion Space, you will serve as the primary interface between our reentry spacecraft program and the complex regulatory landscape governing commercial spaceflight operations. You will lead our regulatory compliance strategy, ensuring our spacecraft and operations meet all FAA Part 450 requirements, DOD approvals, and international regulations. Working at the intersection of aerospace technology and government oversight, you will build and maintain critical relationships with the FAA, DoD, international partners, and other regulatory bodies while guiding our cross-functional teams through the licensing and approval processes. This role is essential to enabling Inversion Space's mission of revolutionizing space logistics and return capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as primary liaison with the FAA to ensure compliance with federal launch and reentry regulations (14 CFR Part 450)
• Navigate and address international spaceflight regulations and coordinate with international partners
• Coordinate with FAA Air Traffic Control, U.S. Coast Guard, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and international regulatory authorities
• Manage FCC spectrum licensing applications and compliance for spacecraft communications systems
• Develop and maintain regulatory strategy aligned with company mission objectives
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with landing site operators and facility stakeholders
• Manage outside vendors and consultants for specialized regulatory needs
• Act as team liaison to ensure operational processes align with license approvals, industry guidance, and best practices
• Represent the company's interests in regulatory working groups, rulemaking bodies, and industry coalitions
• Manage technical and programmatic risks, developing effective mitigation plans with cross-functional collaborators
• Coordinate with stakeholders in the preparation of data packages and documentation required for compliance activities

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the aerospace or similar regulated industry
• Demonstrated expertise in 14 CFR Part 450, Part 460, Part 440, and related regulation sets
• Proven experience participating in leading industry or regulatory initiatives (e.g., COMSTAC, Commercial Spaceflight Federation, SpARC)
• Strong project management skills with a demonstrated history of delivering results on schedule
• Ability to multitask and effectively manage several parallel projects concurrently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to foster positive relationships with team members, government stakeholders, and external partners

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in aerospace or similar regulated industry
• Experience in mission assurance or aerospace operations
• Familiarity with cross-domain regulatory concerns including airspace integration, spectrum licensing, and spaceflight safety
• Previous experience with DOD spaceflight approval processes
• Experience with reentry vehicles, launch vehicles, or spacecraft regulatory approvals
• Understanding of payload integration regulatory requirements
• Advanced degree in engineering, policy, or related field

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 $137,000 - $193,000. 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.