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Senior Propulsion Development Engineer

Inversion
Location
Playa Vista, California, United States
Posted
1 month ago
Department
Propulsion
Salary
$137,000 - $193,000
What they actually want (must-haves)
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance
  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in the design, build, and testing of high-pressure fluid or rocket/spacecraft propulsion systems
  • Expertise using CAD software (Siemens NX or equivalent) for mechanical packaging and fluid line routing
  • Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural mechanics, and materials compatibility
  • Experience working hands-on with high-pressure fluid components, plumbing, and pneumatic systems
Nice to have
  • Direct experience with spacecraft Attitude Control Systems (ACS), cold-gas, warm-gas, or monopropellant/bipropellant thruster systems
  • Familiarity with high-pressure gas system operations, nitrogen/helium systems, and safety-critical hazard controls
  • Experience with ANSYS Mechanical or equivalent FEA software
  • Experience using Python, MATLAB, or GFSSP for fluid system analysis
  • Prior experience performing acceptance and qualification testing of propulsion components or systems in accordance with standards such as SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000A
What the job really is

As a Senior Propulsion Development Engineer at Inversion, you will design, build, and test propulsion systems for a hypersonic reentry vehicle. Your responsibilities include managing the mechanical design of fluid networks, leading test campaigns, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate propulsion hardware and verify performance against mission requirements.

Benefits
  • California annual base salary range of $137,000 - $193,000
  • Pay Grades determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data
  • Individual pay determined on a case-by-case basis
Things to weigh
  • Position requires in-office presence in Playa Vista, CA
  • No remote work mentioned
  • ITAR compliance requires U.S. citizenship or eligibility for required authorizations
Job score4/5
Benefits2/5
Freshness4/5
Career value4/5
Role clarity5/5
Pay transparency5/5

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