Staff GNC Engineer (Guidance)

The role

You will develop the guidance architecture for a maneuvering reentry vehicle. This includes developing guidance algorithms, building flight simulations, and developing plant models.

What you will do

• 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.
• 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 programming languages such as 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.

Nice to have

• 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/or small independent teams.

About the company

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology. The company designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof in Los Angeles.