Principal TPS Materials Engineer

Job description

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 reentry vehicles depend on thermal protection materials that perform like the state of the art but cost far less. As the Principal Materials Scientist, you will lead the development of a family of high-performance, low-cost ablative TPS materials — owning them from formulation through automated production at scale. In this role, you will: Develop new ablative TPS material formulations optimized for performance and cost Characterize material response across harsh thermal environments Prototype material fabrication at small scale and mature it toward flight quality Automate fabrication at large scale, drawing on composite manufacturing methods such as automated tape winding, mandrel tooling design, and elevated-temperature curing Plan and execute material characterization campaigns spanning thermal response testing and mechanical property testing across a wide temperature range Work with outside vendors, test facilities, and suppliers to bring new materials, capabilities, and processes in-house at Inversion Mentor senior and early-career engineers across the organization Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience in a relevant field Typically, 12+ years of professional experience developing, formulating, or producing materials for extreme temperature environments Experience with at least one of: carbon phenolic ablators, reinforced carbon/carbon, or refractory ceramic matrix composites Experience with material characterization testing, including both thermal response testing and material strength testing across a wide temperature range Experience prototyping and scaling material fabrication processes Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, including prototyping and rapid iteration of new products Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance. Desired Qualifications: PhD in Materials Science or a related field Hands-on background with woven, felted, or needled high-temperature fiber preforms and material architectures Experience organizing and executing arc jet material response test campaigns Experience with large-scale composite manufacturing automation (automated tape laying/winding, filament winding, mandrel tooling, autoclave or oven cure development) Experience with ablation and thermal response modeling tools (e.g., FIAT, CHAR, PATO) Experience with thermophysical and thermochemical property measurement (TGA/DSC, laser flash, dilatometry) Experience taking a new material from laboratory formulation through qualification for flight Familiarity with non-destructive evaluation methods for composite and ablative structures Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams 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 $175,000-$244,000. 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. ITAR Compliance: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here . Equal Employment Opportunity: 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. If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Notice for further details.