Senior Propulsion Engineer (Combustion Devices)

This next-generation class of space vehicle will finally be able to provide high-frequency return of research, goods, supplies, and equipment that is critical for all future commercial activities and supply chains in space. With launch costs at an all-time low and dropping, now is the time to build these round-trip capabilities. Inversion has ambitious goals with strong financial backing to make this a reality.

• Take ownership of spacecraft propulsion systems, specifically combustion device
• Responsible for all aspects of the thrust chamber assembly: gathering requirements, conceptual design, hand calculations, simulations, CAD, manufacturing, testing, and integration
• Design and build necessary test hardware and production tooling
• Conduct hot-fire operations, analyze extensive test data, and perform high-pace design and process revisions
• Coordinate with external development partners, supply chains, and contractors
• Work and collaborate with multi-disciplinary engineers to solve design, manufacturing, and integration problems in all aspects of a product

What It Takes:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering related field
• 5+ years of professional development experience working on rocketry or spacecraft combustion devices and high-pressure fluid systems such as thrust chambers, gas-generators, pre-burners, rocket turbomachinery, and flight vehicle valve component design
• Professional experience with CAD, hand calculations, FEA, and design reviews
• Demonstrated experience writing and executing procedures for complex hardware operations

What We’d Love:

• Experience with NX CAD, ANSYS, and/or combustion device tools (CEA, TDK, RTE, ROCCID, etc.)
• Strong understandings of complex and dual-phase fluids, compressible flow, thermodynamics, and heat transfer
• Extensive practical understanding of machining, additive manufacturing, prototyping, and GD&T
• Professional experience conducting hazardous test or production operations
• The willingness to get your hands dirty and build something yourself
• Ability to thrive in a start-up environment

Additional Requirements:

• Position may require extended work hours and weekend work.
• Position may require standing, bending, and working directly with hardware on the floor for extended periods of time.

Where You’ll Be:

• Our office headquarters is located in Torrance, CA.  All jobs require you to work onsite unless otherwise stated in the job description.
• If working remote is an option, other major metropolitan locations in the U.S. with relevance to the space industry may be possible.
• Travel may be required (up to 30%) for this role.

Hiring Manager's Note: "We're looking for somebody to be an integral engineer on our amazing prop team to help develop a powerful, compact, and capability-defining rocket engine for our capsules. You'll not only get to touch the design, testing, and flight of the engine, but also help define the trajectory of where our propulsion team goes in the future. Let's make some fire."

~Austin Briggs, CTO

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $130,000 - $180,000.  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.