ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Cargo Flight Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Breeze Airways

Lear 45 Captain

Charleston, SC · On-site

$84K - $104K/yr

Assists with and ensures proper handling of aircraft, passengers, baggage, and cargo at terminal ... Must have 2,500+ hours total time (not including simulator and/or Flight Engineer time) * Must have ...

Skyways

Staff Mechanical Engineer

Austin, TX

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017 ... The Opportunity This role owns major aircraft systems from early architecture through flight ...

Skyways

Staff Mechanical Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017 ... The Opportunity This role owns major aircraft systems from early architecture through flight ...

Skyways

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017 ... The Opportunity This role owns critical aircraft hardware from concept through flight. You will ...

Skyways

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017 ... The Opportunity This role owns critical aircraft hardware from concept through flight. You will ...

Enigma Aerospace

Senior Software Engineer

Burlington, MA · On-site

$133K - $175K/yr

... cargo solution for military and commercial markets. By combining a novel fixed-wing aircraft design with advanced mission and flight autonomy software, Enigma enables runway-independent resupply in ...

Skyways

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Austin, TX

$103K - $136K/yr

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017 ... The Opportunity This role owns critical aircraft hardware from concept through flight. You will ...

Skyways

Staff Mechanical Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017 ... The Opportunity This role owns major aircraft systems from early architecture through flight ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsCargo Flight Engineer Jobs

Cargo Flight Engineer information

See salary details

$46.5K

$118.5K

$260.5K

How much do cargo flight engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for cargo flight engineer in the United States is $118,512.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,000.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cargo Flight Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cargo Flight Engineer, you need an in-depth understanding of aircraft systems, mechanical troubleshooting, and aviation safety, typically backed by an FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license or equivalent qualifications. Familiarity with flight management systems, load planning software, and maintenance tracking tools is essential. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for coordinating with pilots and ground crews. These skills ensure safe, efficient cargo operations and minimize risks during flight and ground handling.

What are some of the typical challenges faced by a Cargo Flight Engineer during long-haul flights?

Cargo Flight Engineers on long-haul flights often encounter challenges such as monitoring complex aircraft systems for extended periods, troubleshooting technical issues mid-flight, and ensuring the safe distribution and security of cargo. They must remain vigilant to changes in aircraft performance and environmental conditions, adapting quickly to any anomalies. Additionally, effective communication with pilots, ground crews, and maintenance teams is essential to coordinate any required adjustments or emergency procedures.

What are Cargo Flight Engineers?

Cargo Flight Engineers are specialized aviation professionals responsible for monitoring and managing aircraft systems during cargo flights. They work alongside pilots to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft, particularly by overseeing mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems. Their duties may include troubleshooting in-flight issues, performing pre-flight inspections, and ensuring that all cargo is properly loaded and balanced. While technology has reduced the need for this position on modern aircraft, it remains essential for certain types of cargo planes and missions.

What is the difference between Cargo Flight Engineer vs Flight Engineer?

AspectCargo Flight EngineerFlight Engineer
CredentialsFAA or equivalent certification, specialized training in cargo aircraftFAA or equivalent certification, general aircraft systems knowledge
Work EnvironmentCargo aircraft, often in freight hubs and remote locationsPassenger and cargo aircraft, various flight routes
Employer & IndustryFreight airlines, cargo carriersCommercial airlines, cargo operators

The main difference is that Cargo Flight Engineers focus on cargo aircraft operations and specialized freight systems, while Flight Engineers generally work on a variety of aircraft types, including passenger planes. Both roles require similar certifications but differ in work environment and specific responsibilities.

Infographic showing various Cargo Flight Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,512 per year, or $57 per hour.
Senior Paraglider & Parachute Engineer

Senior Paraglider & Parachute Engineer

Outpost

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Sr. Paraglider & Parachute Engineer
Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week)
Launch has changed the economics of space. Now it is time to return.
Outpost is building the missing infrastructure between orbit and Earth: reusable vehicles that can bring payloads back from space and deliver them to a precise location within hours. We call it exologistics, space-to-Earth logistics at planetary scale. This is not a paper concept or a distant roadmap. Our system is in active development, with core technologies advancing toward flight readiness.
The need is already here and the market has responded. We have validated demand through multiple defense and civil agreements, and a growing pipeline across government and commercial customers.
Outpost is building the logistics layer that makes space economically useful in a new way: the ability to move material from orbit to Earth quickly, reliably, and affordably. Over time, that supports point-to-point logistics, 10 tons of cargo, anywhere on Earth in an hour. It also creates the foundation for a reusable reentry network and enables new categories of space activity, including in-space manufacturing, supporting AI data centers, advanced manufacturing and novel materials.
We have a strong foundation, clear demand, and a technical path in front of us. Now the company is scaling rapidly. We are expanding the team, growing our operational footprint, and building the systems needed to execute at the next level. This is a chance to join a company with real traction, working on a problem that matters, at the point where execution and scale begin to define the outcome.
The Role
The Sr. Paraglider & Parachute Engineer will own the final, critical phase of the Outpost mission: the landing. While our deployable heat shield handles the hypersonic deceleration, it is the guided paraglider system that enables us to land payloads with "pinpoint" accuracy rather than just splashing down in the ocean or crashing in the desert. You will lead the design, development, and testing of high-performance paraglider & parachute systems. You will work at the intersection of soft-goods engineering, aerodynamics, and GNC, ensuring that our recovery system can deploy reliably at altitude and navigate to a precise landing zone.
Responsibilities
  • Recovery System Architect: Lead the design and development of the parachute & paraglider recovery system, including canopy sizing, reefing strategies, and riser geometry.
  • Textile & Manufacturing: Develop fabrication processes for complex soft goods. You will own material selection (ripstop nylon, Kevlar, Dyneema), patterning, and integration of hardware (steering lines, toggles, releases).
  • Deployment Sequence: Design the deployment sequence for transitioning from the heatshield configuration, to drogue parachute flight, and on to stable paraglider flight, ensuring no entanglement during the critical handover.
  • Flight Test Lead: Plan and execute flight tests (dropped from crane, aircraft, and balloon platforms) to validate opening characteristics and flight performance.
  • GNC Integration: Collaborate closely with the Avionics and GNC teams to characterize the aerodynamic model of the paraglider, ensuring the autopilot can effectively steer the vehicle to the landing site.
  • Hands-on Fabrication: Be willing to "cut cloth" and work with riggers and sewing technicians to prototype designs rapidly.
  • Reliability: Own the reliability analysis for the recovery system, ensuring we meet the stringent safety requirements for returning critical payloads

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
  • 10 years of experience minimum (15+ years preferred) in the design and manufacturing of paragliders, parachutes, or parafoils
  • Deep knowledge of soft-goods: Expertise in textile behaviors, patterning software (e.g., SpaceCAD, Lectra, specialized CAD modules), and construction techniques for flight-critical fabrics.
  • Flight Test Heritage: Experience planning and conducting flight tests, including instrumentation, ground support, and data analysis.
  • Mechanism Experience: Familiarity with reefing line cutters, pyrotechnic releases, and multi-stage deployment mechanisms.
  • Aerodynamics: Strong understanding of low-speed aerodynamics, glide ratios, flare characteristics, and dynamic stability of flexible wings.
  • Team Player: Ability to communicate complex aerodynamic behaviors to software engineers and structural engineers to ensure the whole vehicle works as a system.

Preferred Experience
  • Active U.S. Government Security Clearance(Not required, but beneficial)
  • Experience with precision guided aerial delivery systems (JPADS) or similar autonomous cargo delivery platforms.
  • Experience with FAA coordination for flight testing in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
  • US military veterans, especially those with prior service as paratrooper or working closely with cargo aircraft
  • Background in skydiving, paragliding, or rigging (FAA Master Rigger certification is a plus).
  • Experience simulating fluid structure interaction & deformed shape analysis (LS-DYNA or similar).

Compensation & Benefits
  • Competitive compensation: $160,000 - $210,000; (commensurate with experience).
  • Additional Compensation: Annual performance-based bonuses that reward your impact.
  • Shared upside: Meaningful equity in Outpost so you share directly in the value you help create.
  • Comprehensive healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your loved ones covered. We cover the base tier of medical insurance and all premiums of vision and dental.
  • Protection when it matters: Company-provided short- and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind, plus life insurance for even more security.
  • PTO: Recharge on your own terms with paid time off, plus 9 days of paid holidays.
  • Invest in your future: 401(k) with company match to help you build long-term wealth.
  • Fueled for the mission: Daily DoorDash lunch stipend, plus unlimited snacks, coffee, and tea to keep you energized.
  • Mission that matters: Work shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders from aerospace, new space, and deep-tech industries building the future of orbital infrastructure.
  • Pet Friendly Office: Bring your furry friend into the office so that they can be a part of our mission too.
  • Monthly Company Happy Hours and Events: Drinks at the local bar, hibachi nights, mini golfing and more!

Apply