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Staff GNC Engineer (Guidance) Verified today

Inversion Space · Playa Vista, CA · Space Systems · first seen 2026-08-13
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Position Overview

Inversion's lifting-body reentry platform is a highly maneuverable, highly accurate vehicle with an industry-first guidance system. As Staff GNC Engineer (Guidance), you will develop the guidance architecture for this high-performance maneuvering reentry vehicle, delivering accuracy in response to real-time mission updates.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own the guidance architecture for a maneuvering reentry vehicle from concept through flight
  • Develop guidance algorithms that replan trajectories onboard in response to real-time mission updates
  • Build and exercise 3-DOF and 6-DOF flight simulations to develop, stress, and validate guidance performance
  • Develop plant models of vehicle and subsystem dynamics to support algorithm design and simulation fidelity
  • Work with the broader GNC, simulation, and mission design teams to close vehicle-level performance
  • Mentor engineers across the GNC team

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience
  • Typically 9+ years of applicable experience developing and testing guidance or GNC algorithms and systems
  • Experience with modern convex optimization methods for guidance (e.g., successive convexification, sequential convex programming, lossless convexification)
  • Experience developing and exercising 3-DOF and 6-DOF flight simulations
  • Strong fundamentals in flight mechanics, optimal control, and trajectory optimization
  • Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or C++ for simulation and analysis
  • Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance

Desired Qualifications

  • Master's or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience
  • Experience with real-time onboard optimization solvers (e.g., ECOS, CVXGEN, OSQP, or custom solvers) in compute-restricted environments
  • Experience with atmospheric entry guidance methods (e.g., numerical predictor-corrector approaches)
  • Experience building plant models of aerospace systems (aerodynamics, propulsion, actuators, sensors)
  • Experience with state estimation using limited data (Kalman filtering, sensor fusion)
  • Experience building guidance code deployed to real flight hardware
  • Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) test experience
  • Prior experience working in startups and small independent teams

Location and Compensation

This position requires in-office presence at Inversion's headquarters in Playa Vista, California. California annual base salary: $161,000-$221,000. Pay determined by role, level, location, market data, and individual qualifications.

ITAR Compliance

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.