Parachute Systems Engineer II

Eras of humanity can often be defined by a dominant transportation mode - horse drawn chariots, ocean going boats, or aircraft. These were spurred by a small group of people rigorously focused on building technology to achieve faster access to more of the world.  We seek to usher in a new era of humanity defined by universal access to the whole globe free of borders and the presence of a routine way from space to Earth. To do this, we are building highly maneuverable re-entry vehicles that can loiter in orbit before precision landing back on Earth. 

What You’ll Do:

As a Parachute Engineer at Inversion, you will play a critical role in the design, functionality, and performance of our next-generation reentry vehicles. This is a unique opportunity to work on the early stages of vehicle design, including defining vehicle architecture and creatively solving new design challenges. You will be a key member of the Accurate Landing Team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, Accurate Landing. In this role, you will:

• Develop and own a variety of parachute systems from concept to manufacture.
• Work with customers to develop and satisfy design requirements.
• Support testing and design of Arc’s parachute and deployment systems.
• Lead and support a variety of parachute and parachute-adjacent hardware, mechanisms, and/or systems.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Typically, 3+ years of parachute design experience with significant project ownership.
• Strong engineering design fundamentals.
• Experience with relevant CAD and design software (may include GliderPlan, Openglider, LEparagliding, AutoCAD, NX, etc.).
• Experienced in relevant textile design, including sewing, rigging, and hardware testing.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience organizing and executing drop tests.
• USPA Class A Sport Parachute license or equivalent.
• FAA Senior Rigger Certification.
• Mechanical and/or pyrotechnic system design experience.
• Joint precision airdrop system (JPADS) design and testing experience.

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $110,000 - $128,000  Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data.  Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.