In Orbit Aerospace · 2 months ago
Descent Systems Engineer
Torrance, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid LevelIn Orbit Aerospace is on a mission to provide resilient and autonomous cargo delivery solutions. The Descent Systems Engineer will design, develop, and test advanced parachutes and decelerator systems while collaborating with various engineering teams for vehicle-level integrations.
AerospaceLogisticsManufacturingTransportation
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Lead the development of parafoils, reefing systems, and other decelerator components
Develop fabrication and manufacturing processes including material selection, patterning, sewing, rigging, and hardware integration
Plan and conduct flight tests including drop tests, high-altitude balloon tests, and other captive-carry deployments
Support the development of test plans, procedures, and instrumentation requirements to verify system performance
Collaborate closely with mechanical, avionics, and software teams for vehicle-level integrations
Own documentation and configuration management for parachute assemblies, manufacturing specifications, and test reports
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's Degree level of education in Aerospace Engineering or similar curriculum
Strong understanding of aerodynamics, drag modeling, reefing techniques, and dynamic behaviors of decelerators
Experience with reefing line cutting systems or multi-stage deployment mechanisms
Experience conducting ground and flight tests for decelerator systems, including test planning, instrument integration, data analysis, and anomaly investigation
Expertise with textile materials (e.g., F-111, S-P fabric, Kevlar, Dyneema)
Ability to work hands-on with sewing machines and ground test fixtures
Solid teamworking and relationship building skills with the ability to effectively communicate difficult technical problems and solutions with other engineering disciplines
Willing to work extended hours as needed
Able to stand for extended periods of time
Able to occasionally travel (~25%) and support off-site testing
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
Preferred
Experience with guided parachute systems
Familiarity with FAA coordination for flight testing in and out of controlled airspace
Experience with pattern design tools such as SpaceCAD, Lectra Modaris, or similar
Company
In Orbit Aerospace
In Orbit Aerospace is building the infrastructure to support mass manufacturing in space.
Founded in 2020
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$2MKey Investors
AWS Space AcceleratorAsymmetry Ventures
2023-04-18Non Equity Assistance
2023-02-14Seed· $1M
2022-04-28Pre Seed· $1M
Leadership Team
Ryan Elliott
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Antonio Coelho
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Recent News
2025-10-10
Google Patent
2025-04-02
Company data provided by crunchbase