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Aircraft Performance Engineer Jobs in California

Wing

Senior Aerodynamics Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · Hybrid

$122K - $168K/yr

Perform aircraft configuration trade studies on mission performance that includes effects of weight ... Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field, or equivalent practical experience

Joby Aviation

Cell Testing Engineer

San Carlos, CA

$104K - $183K/yr

Develop novel and targeted methods of characterizing cell performance as they relate to aircraft ... MS or above in in materials science, chemistry, electrical engineering, or related field

Slope

Senior Flight Sciences Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$191 - $253/hr

We are looking for software engineers, hardware engineers, roboticists, and front-end mobile ... Evaluate impacts of configuration changes on performance of the aircraft. * Flight Simulation ...

Poseidon Aerospace

Aerospace Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$85 - $120/hr

As an Aerospace Engineer at Poseidon Aerospace, you will shape the aerodynamic and performance characteristics of our next-generation composite aircraft. Your work will include CFD modeling ...

Wing

Software Engineer, Data Infrastructure

Palo Alto, CA · Hybrid

$134K - $161K/yr

Your work will empower engineering and flight operations teams to understand aircraft performance and debug issues in the fleet, while also providing the datasets necessary to train and validate ...

Joby Aviation

Performance Lead/DER

Santa Cruz, CA · On-site

$126K - $277K/yr

Conduct propeller and mission performance calculations and the underlying engineering analyses that provide inputs to aircraft-level performance calculations related to product requirements.

Joby Aviation

Performance Lead/DER

Santa Cruz, CA · On-site

$126K - $277K/yr

Conduct propeller and mission performance calculations and the underlying engineering analyses that provide inputs to aircraft-level performance calculations related to product requirements.

Anduril Industries

Flight Sciences Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$166K - $220K/yr

Utilize simulation to evaluate aircraft performance and reliability. * Validate simulation accuracy against wind tunnel and flight test results * Testing: * Work with Flight Test personnel to plan ...

Joby Aviation

Performance Lead/DER

Santa Cruz, CA · On-site

$126K - $277K/yr

Conduct propeller and mission performance calculations and the underlying engineering analyses that provide inputs to aircraft-level performance calculations related to product requirements.

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All JobsAircraft Performance Engineer JobsAircraft Performance Engineer Jobs in California

Aircraft Performance Engineer information

See California salary details

$47.9K

$79.7K

$117.4K

How much do aircraft performance engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for aircraft performance engineer in California is $79,731.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,600.00 and $94,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an aircraft performance engineer do?

An Aircraft Performance Engineer is responsible for analyzing and optimizing an aircraft's performance characteristics, such as takeoff, climb, cruise, and landing. They use aerodynamic principles, simulation tools, and regulatory guidelines to ensure the aircraft meets efficiency, safety, and operational requirements. Their work influences fuel consumption, payload capacity, and regulatory compliance. They collaborate with design teams, pilots, and airline operators to enhance aircraft performance under various flight conditions.

What are some typical challenges faced by aircraft performance engineers in their daily work?

Aircraft Performance Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing competing performance requirements, analyzing vast amounts of flight test and simulation data, and meeting strict regulatory and safety standards. The role requires troubleshooting performance issues that may arise during the aircraft design, testing, or operational phases, often working closely with design, flight test, and certification teams to resolve complex problems. Additionally, adapting to evolving technologies and staying updated with the latest industry regulations are ongoing aspects of the job. Overcoming these challenges successfully is crucial for developing safe, reliable, and high-performing aircraft.

What are the most commonly searched types of Aircraft Performance Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Aircraft Performance Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Aircraft Performance Engineer jobs in California?

For Aircraft Performance Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Aircraft Performance Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Aircraft Performance Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Aircraft Performance Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Aircraft Performance Engineer job openings:

Aircraft Performance Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Aircraft Performance Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,731 per year, or $38.3 per hour.

Senior Flight Performance Engineer, Air Vehicles

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

$166K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Support the aerodynamic design and analysis of unmanned air vehicles and missile platforms throughout the development lifecycle.

  • Collaborate with the flight test team to plan, execute, and analyze flight tests focused on flight sciences.

  • Perform aerodynamic analysis using various techniques, including analysis tool development and improvement.

Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 76,812 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Air Dominance and Strike Aerodynamics Engineering Team is responsible for the advanced aerodynamic design and analysis for Group 5 air vehicles and missile platforms. Air Dominance and Strike Aerodynamics Engineers own the full development lifecycle, from conceptual design to flight test planning, execution and analysis ensuringhigh-performance, resilient, and scalable systems that meet the demands ofcomplex, contested environments.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Aerodynamics and flight performance of unmanned air vehicles/missiles
  • Work with flight test team to support planning, execution and analysis of flight sciences focused
  • testing
  • Aerodynamic analysis of unmanned air vehicles, using both low- and high-order methods,
  • including analysis tool development and improvement as needed
  • Stability and control analysis
  • Aircraft performance modeling and simulation
  • Aerodynamic loads generation

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • BS or higher degree in Aerospace Engineering
  • 8+ years work experience as an individual contributing engineer
  • Ability to travel as required for testing
  • Test experience including data acquisition, data analysis and project coordination
  • Flight test param-id (parameter identification) for aerodynamic modeling
  • Experience with aircraft performance analysis and predictions
  • Competent in a variety of aerodynamic analysis techniques including hand calculations, vortex
  • lattice methods, panel methods, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
  • Strong programming skills in higher-level languages (e.g., MATLAB, Python) for internal tool
  • development in a version-controlled environment
  • Experience preparing formal documentation (i.e. specifications, test procedures, technical
  • reports, etc.)
  • Possess and be able to maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience with transonic and supersonic flow regimes

US Salary Range
$166,000-$220,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
  • Please always verify communications:
    • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.
  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.

What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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