Senior Avionics Test and Automation Engineer

Who We Are: 

Eras of humanity can often be defined by a dominant transportation mode - horse-drawn chariots, ocean-going boats, or aircraft. These were spurred by a small group of people rigorously focused on building technology to achieve faster access to more of the world. We seek to usher in a new era of humanity defined by universal access to the whole globe free of borders and the presence of a routine way from space to Earth. To do this, we are building highly maneuverable re-entry vehicles that can loiter in orbit before precision landing back on Earth.  

What You’ll Do:

As an Avionics Test and Automation Engineer, you will design, develop, and maintain high-precision test systems for Inversion’s next-generation spacecraft, Arc. Your expertise in designing hardware test platforms and software frameworks will directly impact flight hardware validation, qualification testing, and overall mission success by ensuring avionics meet performance, reliability, and environmental requirements. You will be a key member of the Avionics team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, Avionics.

• Design, develop, and maintain custom test solutions for flight hardware consisting of in-house developed electronics and electro-mechanical hardware
• Write automation software responsible for interfacing with test equipment, instrumentation, devices under test, and ERP/MRP systems
• Perform root-cause investigations of failures observed during test by partnering closely with design teams
• Manage COTS component selection and develop custom hardware to exercise hardware interfaces in a flight-like manner

Required Qualifications:

• Typically, 5+ years working with embedded test systems, preferably in avionics.
• Ability to scope, develop, troubleshoot, and maintain high-precision test systems for complex electronic systems.
• Strong background in test system component evaluation and selection.
• Proficiency with test automation strategies and frameworks (e.g., Pytest, Robot Framework).
• Experience designing and managing hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds for embedded systems.
• Knowledge of test system automation, including deployment, execution, and post-processing of test data.
• Competence in developing test plans and authoring test/verification procedures for electronic systems.
• Hands-on ability with oscilloscopes, signal generators, logic analyzers, and other lab equipment for debugging and characterization.
• Strong proficiency in scripting languages such as Python and MATLAB for test automation and data analysis.

Desired Qualifications:

• Background in automated data analysis tooling to improve test efficiency and insight generation.
• Familiarity with embedded software development for microcontrollers or FPGA-based platforms.
• Knowledge of PCB design for test instrumentation and interface hardware.
• Understanding of EMI/EMC test methodologies for aerospace electronics.
• Capability to automate environmental test equipment (e.g., thermal chambers, vacuum chambers).
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for test and verification automation.
• Previous involvement in startup environments, where adaptability and initiative are critical.

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 $140,000 - $180,000.  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.