Senior Avionics Test and Integration 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: As an Avionics Test and Integration Engineer at Inversion you will be responsible for integrating, validating, and troubleshooting the electrical systems that enable Inversion’s vehicle to fly. You will work at the intersection of hardware design, software, manufacturing, and flight operations, owning vehicle-level checkout, test infrastructure, and hardware verification from development through flight. You will build and operate flight-like test environments, perform qualification and acceptance testing of avionics hardware, integrate avionics into flight articles, investigate anomalies, and help ensure every electrical subsystem is ready for mission operations. This is a highly hands-on role requiring strong engineering judgment, technical curiosity, and the ability to solve complex system-level problems under aggressive development schedules. Key Responsibilities: Own vehicle-level integration, checkout, and verification of avionics subsystems including flight computers, power systems, networking equipment, RF systems, sensors, and payload interfaces. Develop and execute electrical integration procedures, acceptance test plans, qualification campaigns, and vehicle checkout operations. Design, build, and maintain avionics test infrastructure including HIL testbeds, bench-top test systems, test racks, breakout boxes, simulators, and electrical ground support equipment. Support system-level bring-up and troubleshooting of flight hardware, including root-cause investigations involving electrical, software, networking, and mechanical interfaces. Perform electrical verification activities including continuity testing, isolation testing, power-on validation, sensor calibration, and hardware functional testing. Develop automated test procedures and data collection tools to improve test coverage, repeatability, and operational efficiency. Analyze telemetry, logs, and test data to identify failures, characterize system performance, and drive corrective actions. Collaborate closely with avionics design engineers, embedded software engineers, manufacturing engineers, and vehicle integration teams to rapidly resolve issues and improve product reliability. Support vehicle environmental testing including vibration, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC, and flight qualification campaigns. Generate clear test documentation including procedures, test reports, discrepancy reports, and non-conformance investigations. Support launch, flight, and mission operations as required. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline. Typically 5+ years of experience in avionics integration, spacecraft testing, launch vehicle testing, aerospace systems integration, or equivalent high-reliability hardware environments. Experience integrating and troubleshooting embedded electronic systems and electrical hardware. Strong understanding of electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, and system architectures. Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers, network analyzers, and data acquisition equipment. Experience performing system-level troubleshooting using telemetry, logs, electrical measurements, and root-cause analysis techniques. Familiarity with common aerospace and embedded communication protocols such as Ethernet, CAN, RS-422, RS-485, SPI, I2C, etc Experience with Python, C++, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or automated test frameworks. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced hardware development environment with evolving requirements. Excellent verbal, written, and cross-functional communication skills. Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance. Desired Qualifications: Experience with spacecraft, launch vehicles, hypersonic systems, autonomous aircraft, defense systems, or other mission-critical aerospace platforms. Experience developing, building, and operating Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Iron Bird, or flight simulation environments. Experience with hardware qualification and environmental testing including vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, and EMI/EMC testing. Knowledge of networking technologies including TCP/IP, UDP, multicast, managed switches, and Precision Time Protocol (PTP). Experience working with telemetry systems, mission operations, and flight software verification. Familiarity with aerospace standards such as IPC-620, IPC J-STD-001, NASA workmanship requirements, or military standards. Experience developing electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) and production test systems. Experience supporting vehicle integration campaigns, launch operations, flight tests, or mission readiness reviews. Previous experience in a fast-paced startup or rapid hardware development environment. 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 $137,000 - $193,000. 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. 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