Internship Physics Simulation Jobs in California

Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space.
Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform - one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach.
Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds.
Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space-based defense and logistics.

What You'll Do 

As a Simulation Engineer at Inversion, you will focus on developing, automating, and maintaining the simulation and testing environments that validate our flight systems. You will play a key role in bridging the gap between GNC, Software, and Simulation teams, specifically supporting the pipeline that translates MATLAB-based GNC algorithms into autocoded C/C++ flight software. Working under the guidance of senior simulation engineers, you will build tools and workflows that enable fast, repeatable verification of flight software and hardware under realistic flight conditions using Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop, test, and maintain simulation models for spacecraft subsystems, environmental dynamics, and hardware interfaces. 
• Support the execution, automation, and scaling of Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing runs. 
• Write and optimize data-processing pipelines and visualization scripts to analyze simulation outputs and verify vehicle-level requirements. 
• Integrate internal guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithms, aerodynamic databases, and sensor models into the core simulation platform. 
• Develop and run automated unit tests, integration tests, and regression suites to ensure simulation platform stability. 
• Maintain and troubleshoot simulation backend infrastructure, high-performance computing (HPC) nodes, and physical testbeds. 
• Document simulation setups, API interfaces, and user guides to empower product engineering teams to run self-service simulation workflows. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience. 
• Typically 1+ years of internship, academic research, or professional experience developing software, physics-based simulations, or numerical models. 
• Proficiency in programming languages such as C++ or Python in a Linux environment. 
• Strong foundational understanding of physics, classical mechanics, dynamics, and numerical analysis. 
• Familiarity with standard software development practices, including version control (Git). 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a strong motivation to learn and take on technical ownership of complex codebases. 

Desired Qualifications 

• Familiarity with aerospace simulation tools, physics engines, or numerical frameworks (such as MATLAB/Simulink, ROS/ROS2, or custom C++ engines). 
• Familiarity with continuous integration (CI/CD) pipelines, containerization (Docker), and cloud or HPC infrastructure. 
• Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, processors-in-the-loop (PIL), or interfacing hardware with software simulations. 
• Demonstrated technical execution through collegiate engineering teams (such as Formula SAE, rocket clubs, or robotics design groups). 
• Prior internship experience in a fast-paced aerospace, robotics, or high-tech startup 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 $71,000 - $124,000.  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.