Pyrotechnic Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 the Manager of Arc Vehicle Avionics at Inversion, you will report directly to the Chief Engineer of Arc. In this role, you will lead the development, packaging, physical integration, and testing of the avionics suite for our next-generation Arc hypersonic reentry vehicle. You will own the end-to-end delivery of the Arc avionics and electrical subsystems for flight operations.  

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead daily operations, scheduling, and tasking for the Arc Avionics team, including managing a team of Electrical, Harnessing, and Embedded Software Engineers. 
• Own the delivery, mechanical packaging, and electrical integration of all avionics hardware on the Arc vehicle. 
• Coordinate directly with the centralized Platform Avionics team to integrate core power distribution, flight computers, telemetry, and sensor architectures. 
• Oversee the design, routing, fabrication, and quality control of vehicle-specific electrical harnessing and RF communication systems. 
• Collaborate with the Software, Simulation, and Test teams to validate flight software and execute hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration testing. 
• Manage technical risks, mass/power budgets, and design-for-manufacturing trades for all Arc electronics, batteries, and pyrotechnic actuation hardware. 
• Drive rapid troubleshooting, failure investigation, and resolution of electrical and RF anomalies during vehicle assembly and environmental testing. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent technical experience. 
• Typically 8+ years of hands-on experience in complex avionics development, electrical hardware integration, or aerospace systems engineering. 
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams or complex hardware integration projects under constraints. 
• Technical depth across multiple avionics domains, including power distribution, RF communications, flight computers, sensor interfacing, and cabling/harnessing. 
• Experience managing hardware projects through development, assembly, and environmental qualification (vibration, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC). 
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. 

Desired Qualifications 

• Experience with spacecraft, launch vehicle, or high-reliability tactical aerospace hardware avionics systems. 
• Familiarity with battery safety, power distribution architectures, and pyrotechnic trigger systems. 
• Experience developing and executing Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test setups and automated test sequences. 
• Prior experience working in startups and/or 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 $148,000 - $203,000.  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.