ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Contract Aerospace Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Arcfield

Aerospace Engineer

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

We provide support in the areas of programmatic and systems engineering, engineering and scientific ... Contract Wage Determination, relevant work experience, skills and competencies that align to the ...

Paramount Panels, Inc.

Be Seen First

Aerospace Electrical Engineer

Ontario, CA · On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

Paramount Panels, Inc. has been in the Aerospace Industry for over 30 years in the Ontario ... They will be responsible for designing and implementing engineering contract review design ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsContract Aerospace Engineering Jobs

Contract Aerospace Engineering information

See salary details

$30

$48

$99

How much do contract aerospace engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract aerospace engineering in the United States is $48.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.11 and $50.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Contract Aerospace Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace engineering principles, experience with aircraft or spacecraft design, and at least a bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering. Familiarity with industry-standard CAD software (such as CATIA or SolidWorks), finite element analysis tools, and relevant certifications (like PE or PMP) is often required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and excellent communication skills help you adapt to diverse project environments and collaborate effectively. These competencies ensure you can deliver high-quality engineering solutions within tight deadlines and varied client requirements.

How to become an aerospace contractor?

To become an aerospace contractor, individuals typically need a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field, along with relevant experience in aerospace projects. Building a strong network, obtaining industry certifications, and understanding government contracting processes can also improve chances of success in securing contracts.

What are some common challenges faced by contract aerospace engineers, and how can they best prepare for them?

Contract aerospace engineers often face challenges such as quickly adapting to new teams, rapidly understanding project-specific requirements, and managing fluctuating workloads due to project-based timelines. To succeed, it's important to develop strong communication skills, stay up-to-date with industry standards, and remain flexible in your approach to problem-solving. Building a robust professional network and being proactive in learning about different company cultures can also help contract engineers quickly integrate and add value to each assignment.

Can I make 200k as an Aerospace Engineer?

Senior aerospace engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills, and working in high-paying industries or locations can earn salaries around or above $200,000 annually. Entry-level or mid-career aerospace engineers typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000, with salaries increasing with specialization, certifications, and leadership roles.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior aerospace engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills, and leadership roles can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially in high-cost regions or with bonuses and stock options. Achieving this level often requires advanced degrees, certifications, and a track record of significant project contributions.

What is contract aerospace engineering?

Contract aerospace engineering refers to hiring engineers on a temporary or project-based basis to work on aerospace projects such as aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, or defense systems. These engineers may be brought in to provide specialized expertise, assist with peak workloads, or complete specific phases of a project. Unlike permanent employees, contract aerospace engineers typically work for a set period or until project completion. This arrangement provides flexibility for both employers and engineers, allowing companies to access specific skills as needed while giving engineers diverse work experiences.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior aerospace engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills, and advanced certifications can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially in leadership roles or at major defense and aerospace companies. High salaries often reflect expertise in areas like propulsion, avionics, or systems engineering, along with a strong track record of project management and innovation.
More about Contract Aerospace Engineering jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Aerospace Engineering jobs? Cities with the most Contract Aerospace Engineering job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Aerospace Engineering jobs? The most popular types of Aerospace Engineering jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Aerospace Engineering jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Aerospace Engineering jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Contract Aerospace Engineering jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Aerospace Engineering jobs are:
Contract Aerospace Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Aerospace Engineering job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Internship, and 67% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $101,781 per year, or $48.9 per hour.
Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

Arcfield

Colorado Springs, CO • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Responsibilities
Arcfield is seeking a mechanical and aerospace engineer to support our strategic programs work in Colorado Springs. Arcfield has supported our U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) customer by performing research, development, analysis, modeling, simulation, and testing to assess weapon system performance and qualify weapon systems for normal and hostile environments for over 60 years. We provide support in the areas of programmatic and systems engineering, engineering and scientific analysis, and operational systems support for Navy SSP's strategic reentry systems. We utilize both COTS and in-house developed software to deliver analysis results and software models of reentry systems and weapons effects to Navy SSP.
The mechanical and aerospace engineer level III will be responsible for supporting the maintenance and development of our legacy in-house developed software tools and providing technical analysis of reentry system performance in hostile and normal reentry environments. This analysis can include modeling the environments, and analyzing complex materials and structures and dynamic response of structures subjected to hypersonic aerodynamic loads and system responses to thermal and shock environments.
Key responsibilities include:
  • Work in a team environment to plan and accomplish project goals and objectives
  • Development and maintenance of in-house developed software programs and tools (FORTRAN, C++, Python)
  • Support vehicle performance evaluations in hostile and atmospheric reentry environments with advanced computer modeling techniques
  • Analyze, interpret, and assess simulation results
  • Publish summary reports documenting results
  • Write plans, reports, and presentations
  • Present results to DoD customer and external reviewers
  • Travel to meetings at national laboratories and customer sites

Qualifications
Required:
  • BS 5-7 Years, MS 3-5, PhD 0-2
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top-Secret clearance
  • Degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science, software engineering, or related field.
  • Experience with developing and running advanced computer models and software tools
  • Experience with engineering analysis codes and techniques
  • Experience with FORTRAN, C++, Matlab, and/or Python
  • Experience with data analysis and statistical modeling methods
  • Experience with writing plans and reports and briefing technical results

Preferred:
  • Experience in the nuclear weapons complex (either DoD or DOE)
  • Experience with Computer Aided Design (CAD)
  • Experience with Finite Element Modeling (FEM)
  • Experience with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Equal Pay Act
This is the projected compensation range for this position. There are differentiating factors that can impact a final salary/hourly rate, including, but not limited to, Contract Wage Determination, relevant work experience, skills and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location (For Remote Opportunities), education and certifications as well as Federal Government Contract Labor categories. In addition, Arcfield invests in its employees beyond just compensation. Arcfield 's benefits offerings include, dependent upon position, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections. Min: $83,623.66 Max: $145,405.33
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and federal government contractor. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment as protected by law.

Apply