Senior TPS Design Engineer

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Design cutting edge thermal protection systems for Inversion’s Arc vehicle
• Organize development and qualification testing of TPS materials and installations
• Develop accelerated TPS integration methods to reduce manufacturing time
• Develop the analysis and design workflow of the flight heatshields for flight vehicles
• Explore trades between TPS materials and manufacturing methods
• Work with outside vendors, suppliers, and testing resources to bring new materials, capabilities, and processes in-house at Inversion

Requirements

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Material Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Chemical Engineering OR equivalent experience in a relevant field
• Typically, 5+ years of professional experience working with, formulating, or producing materials for extreme temperature environments (Reentry, Rocketry, Hypersonics, Propulsion, Nuclear Power, etc.)
• Experience using Siemens NX or similar CAD software
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment

Qualifications

• Professional experience in design, testing, and integration of thermal protection systems for hypersonic or reentry flight vehicles
• Professional experience working with, formulating, or producing ablative or ceramic TPSS
• Strong understanding of the fundamentals behind aerothermal heating of reentry vehicles, TPS production, and thermal environments of extreme temperature applications
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams

Skills

• Proficiency in CAD software
• Experience with thermal protection systems design
• Understanding of aerothermal heating and TPS production
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, startup environment

Benefits

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $150,000-$210,000. 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.

Pay

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $150,000-$210,000.

Schedule

This role is onsite at our Playa Vista, California office.

Contact

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