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Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth 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   As  a   Staff Thermal Engineer  at Inversion, you will report directly to the  Senior Manager of Arc Vehicle Reentry . In this role, you will be the primary technical authority on spacecraft thermal design, modeling, and thermal protection system (TPS) sizing. You will define the thermal architecture for our hypersonic reentry vehicles to ensure structures, avionics, payloads, and mechanical flight controls survive extreme reentry environments.  You  will lead complex multi-physics analysis efforts, establish company-wide thermal standards, mentor senior engineers, and translate high-level program requirements into validated, flight-ready thermal control systems.   Key Responsibilities   Define the overall spacecraft thermal control system (TCS) architecture and design standards across all product lines.   Lead high-fidelity, transient thermal analysis including 3D conjugate heat transfer (CHT) modeling, aerodynamic heating boundary conditions, and internal radiative/conductive heat transfer.   Own the sizing, selection, and structural interface design of thermal protection systems (TPS) and internal insulation materials.   Analyze and optimize thermal  conductances  of structural joints, mechanical isolators for flap actuators, and electronic compartment packaging.   Partner directly with the aerothermal, structures, GNC, and propulsion teams to execute multi-disciplinary design trade studies and vehicle performance optimizations.   Establish thermal testing standards and lead thermal vacuum (TVAC) and high-temperature material testing qualification campaigns.   Correlate thermal models against flight and ground test data, including arc-jet testing, to reduce modeling uncertainty and validate designs.   Mentor senior and mid-level engineers across the organization on first-principles thermal design, analysis tools, and best practices.   Required Qualifications   Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering , Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.   Typically   8 + years of experience in thermal design, modeling, and analysis of high-temperature aerospace vehicles, such as launch vehicles, reentry capsules, satellites, or tactical hardware.   Expertise in industry-standard thermal analysis software, such as Thermal Desktop, ANSYS Thermal, or equivalent tools.   Strong foundational knowledge of multi-physics heat transfer (conduction, radiation, high-speed convection) and thermodynamics.   Demonstrated experience taking complex thermal systems through the com