Senior Flight Software Engineer
About Us
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.
Responsibilities
- Own critical software components for a new vehicle, from initial concept through design, implementation, testing, and deployment
- Write and test software for spacecraft, including drivers, networking, fault management, and attitude control interfaces
- Assist 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 with the growth and development of the software organization, including conducting interviews and mentoring/onboarding other engineers and interns
You will be a key member of the Processing Core team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineer, Processing Core. This role is all-encompassing and includes the complete lifecycle of the vehicle’s software.
Requirements
- 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 processes related to software development such as version control, code reviews, issue tracking, and CI/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
- This position requires in-office presence at our Playa Vista, CA headquarters
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, Buildroot, or similar)
- Prior experience working in startups and small independent teams
Pay
The California annual base salary for this role is currently $140,000 - 178,000. 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 interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, including 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.