Senior Propulsion and Energetics Thermofluids Engineer

Senior Propulsion and Energetics Thermofluids Engineer

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space.
Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform — one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach.
Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds.
Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space-based defense and logistics.

As a Senior Propulsion and Energetics Thermofluids Engineer at Inversion, you will report to the Head of Test, Propulsion & Energetics. In this role, you will be the primary technical authority on vacuum chamber systems for a hypersonic plasma wind tunnel. You will design and develop the mechanical structures and devices to activate a vacuum system and its requisite heat exchanger systems for a high-energy test bed to expand Inversion’s depth in hypersonic and reentry material testing.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadthe design and development ofvacuum chamberand heat exchangercoolingsystemstailoredtoourhigh energy plasma test environment.
  
  Thisincludesdetailed mechanicaldesignwithexecutable drawingsandtechnical specifications.
• Conductthoroughthermal andfluidanalysesonindustrial-scaleequipment
• Lead high-fidelity, transient thermal analysis including 3D conjugate heat transfer (CHT) modeling, aerodynamic heating boundary conditions, and internal radiative/conductive heat transfer.
• Drive design trades across performance, manufacturability, schedule, and cost.
• Ownthesizing,selection, and structural interface designbetweenthe testfacility andthermal protection systems (TPS) and internal insulation materials
• Own CAD models, drawings, release packages, and bill of materials for prototype and flight-like hardware.
• Support prototype design, hands-on integration, fit checks, and issue resolution during build.
• Provideadditionalmechanicaltoolingand mechanismdesign bandwidth fortestactivities as needed.
• Work closely with vehicle,manufacturing, test, supply chain, and technician teams to bring designs from concept through fabrication and integration.
• Partner with outside vendors and suppliers to source parts, review manufacturability, and accelerate development.

Required Qualifications

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in thermal design, modeling, and analysis of high-temperaturesystems.
• Strong practicalmechanicaldesign skills related toindustrialsystems,mechanisms,high thermal-loadsystems,anduserinterfaces.
• High familiarity withCADsoftware, such asSiemensNX.
• Experience producing engineering drawings and applying standard dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
• Expertise in industry-standard thermal analysis software, such as Thermal Desktop, ANSYS Thermal, or equivalent tools.
• Strong foundational knowledge of multi-physics heat transfer (conduction, radiation, high-speed convection) and thermodynamics.
• Demonstrated experience taking complex thermal systems through the complete lifecycle from conceptual design through hardware testing.
• Proven ability tooperateindependently, make high-consequence technical decisions under uncertainty, andestablishcompany-wide technical standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with a focus on heat transfer, fluid dynamics, or…