Inversion

Staff Flight Software Engineer, Arc Vehicle

Playa Vista, California, United States · Staff+

Work authorization required$165k-$236kDetected 39 days ago

RustC++AlgorithmsCI/CDLinuxSparkComplianceLogisticsAerospace EngineeringTest AutomationCommunication

About the role

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.
In this role, you will be a principal software architect and technical authority for the flight software running on our next-generation Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle.

You will own the flight software architecture end-to-end, solving unprecedented technical challenges at the intersection of embedded hardware, safety-critical control loops, and autonomous flight state machines.
Architect, write, and maintain high-reliability, fault-tolerant flight software in for the Arc vehicle.
Own the software architecture for critical vehicle state transitions, fault-management, power conservation, and autonomous mission execution.
Lead the integration and optimization of complex multi-rate Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms from the Reentry and Accurate Landing teams into the core C++ flight software loop.
Drive hardware-software boundary definition, board bring-up, and low-level debugging on target flight computer processors.
Collaborate with cross-functional system architects to define telemetry formats, communication protocols, and hardware interface controls.
Typically 9 + years of professional experience developing embedded, real-time, or safety-critical software.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a proven ability to lead complex software design reviews.
Experience developing flight software for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or safety-critical autonomous aerospace platforms.

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
Expertise in systems programming languages (C / C++ / Rust) in a Linux-based development environment.
Proven track record of architecting and deploying flight software or high-reliability autonomous software on hardware that has successfully operated in flight or harsh environments.
Familiarity with physical system modeling, 6DOF simulations, or GNC algorithm execution.
Extensive experience with modern CI/CD systems, software test automation, and embedded compiler toolchains.
Prior experience in a fast-paced aerospace startup.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $165,000 - $236,000.

Design and lead the development of highly automated Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test suites to achieve robust code coverage.

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.
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 Staff Flight Software Engineer at Inversion, you will report directly to the Engineering Manager of Arc Vehicle Software.
Establish company-wide embedded C++ development standards, coding guidelines, and software architectural patterns.
Mentor senior and mid-level software engineers, fostering a culture of rigorous software engineering and technical excellence.
Required Qualifications
Deep understanding of embedded Linux, deterministic software execution, multi-threading, and memory management in resource-constrained environments.
Strong background in low-level drivers, networking, and hardware interface protocols (such as CAN, Ethernet, SPI, UART, or RS-422).
Desired Qualifications

Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability.
Inversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

This listing is sourced directly from Inversion's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.