Material Characterization Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are: 

 
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: 

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 

• This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA. 

• 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 

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.