Autonomy Systems Engineer III (Flight Rules & Fault Management) at Inversion Space

Los Angeles, California, United States

Inversion Space Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Aerospace, Space TransportationIndustries

Requirements

  • 6+ years in systems engineering, mission operations, autonomy, aerospace, or robotics
  • Experience with mission rules, fault management, FDIR, or safety analysis
  • Ability to define behavior for complex systems with incomplete information
  • Strong communication skills across software, GNC, safety, and operations
  • Comfortable owning critical architecture in a small, high-trust team
  • Hands-on experience with git workflows and contributing to shared technical repositories

Responsibilities

  • Define mission rules and vehicle behavior through all phases of flight
  • Build and maintain the On-Board Fault Monitor structure and fault-handling logic
  • Create and update fault trees, hazard analyses, and autonomous response plans
  • Define state transitions and decision criteria for normal, off-nominal, and contingency modes
  • Translate program-level requirements into clear autonomy logic and testable behaviors
  • Collaborate with GNC, Perception, Avionics, and Flight Ops to ensure safe integrated behavior
  • Work with autonomy software engineers to implement mission logic and fault responses
  • Validate flight rules using simulation data, flight telemetry, and scenario testing
  • Support flight test readiness reviews and mission rehearsals

Skills

Systems Engineering
Autonomy Software
GNC
Fault Management
Fault Trees
Hazard Analysis
Mission Rules
State Transitions
Flight Rules
Simulation
Telemetry Analysis
Avionics
Perception Systems
Flight Testing

Inversion Space

Develops low-cost re-entry vehicles for cargo

About Inversion Space

Inversion Space develops re-entry vehicles that are designed to return cargo and resources from space at a low cost and with high frequency. Their vehicles enable the safe return of various types of cargo from low-earth orbit and beyond, making the process of returning from space as routine as launching into it. This company serves clients in the space exploration and commercial space sectors, generating revenue through service contracts and partnerships with space agencies and private companies. Inversion Space differentiates itself by focusing on the efficiency and reliability of its re-entry solutions, which are essential for the sustainability and growth of space operations.

Torrance, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2021Year Founded
$121.6MTotal Funding
SERIES_ACompany Stage
AerospaceIndustries
51-200Employees

Risks

Competition from SpaceX and Blue Origin may limit market share.
Potential regulatory hurdles could delay operations and increase costs.
Reliance on SpaceX's Transporter-12 mission poses risk if launch issues occur.

Differentiation

Inversion Space focuses on affordable, high cadence re-entry vehicles for cargo return.
The company aims to make space return as common as space launch.
Inversion Space develops in-house technology for re-entry vehicles, enhancing cost efficiency.

Upsides

Inversion raised $44 million to advance re-entry vehicle development.
Awarded $71M by SpaceWERX for next-gen autonomous re-entry vehicles.
Growing demand for re-entry solutions aligns with Inversion's focus on affordable vehicles.

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