Parachute Systems Engineer II

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are:

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.}