Senior Software Engineer (Ground Software)

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 Senior Software Engineer (Ground Software) at Inversion, you will have an instrumental impact on the interface and operation of our next-generation re-entry vehicles. You will architect, build, and deploy software systems essential to the command and control of space vehicles. Working directly with Flight Software, Avionics, and Simulation teams, this role is responsible for delivering reliable, robust tools to direct and monitor vehicles and assets on the ground and in space. The result of this work is essential in enabling the world’s first re-entry vehicle designed for turning space into a transportation layer for Earth. You will be a key member of the Processing Core team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, Processing Core.  

Key Responsibilities: 

This role spans the full lifecycle of ground software, from test infrastructure and simulation through qualification and mission operations:  

• Develop intuitive software that enables real-time operation of space vehicles 
• Design and own command and control systems 
• Assist with the growth and development of the software organization, including conducting interviews and mentoring/onboarding other engineers and interns  

In your first 6-12 months, you will take ownership of the ground software systems stack and deploy your solutions to support live development and space vehicles. 

Required Qualifications: 

• 5+ years of hands-on experience building flight software or ground software with a Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, computer science, or equivalent experience 
• Strong coding skills in a systems programing language (C, C++, Rust, etc.) and scripting languages (Python, Bash etc.) 
• Working knowledge of networking fundamentals and distributed systems concepts, including TCP/UDP, client-server architectures, and networked debugging 
• Strong familiarity with developing and deploying on Linux. 
• Experience developing, verifying, and deploying software at scale 
• An innovative and optimistic approach to your work in a dynamic and uncertain environment! 
• Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA, and this position requires you to work onsite 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience developing, verifying/qualifying, and deploying mission critical software 
• Familiarity with communications and RF fundamentals such as encoding, modulation, forward error correction, and common aerospace standards 
• Experience building beautiful and intuitive user experiences and interfaces using frameworks like React, Angular, etc. 
• Prior experience working in startups and 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 $139,000 - 201,000.  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.