Staff GNC Engineer (Guidance)

Advanced Reentry Technologies Who We Are: Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology to enable next-generation capabilities from space. By combining high-performance materials, precision aerodynamics, and mission-driven autonomy, Inversion is transforming reentry into an operational capability for an entirely new class of missions. The company’s highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and other national security missions that require precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere. Arc creates an entirely new transportation domain, unlocking unprecedented speed and global reach. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling the company to move rapidly from concept to flight. The company is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with customers across the U.S. government and commercial space industry. Position Overview: Inversion's lifting-body reentry platform will be a highly maneuverable, highly accurate vehicle that is an industry first — and its guidance system is what makes that maneuverability count. As the Staff GNC Engineer (Guidance), you will be responsible for developing the guidance architecture for a high-performance maneuvering reentry vehicle, delivering high performance in the face of 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 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. …