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Contract Flight Instructor Jobs in Santa Ana, CA

Safran S.A.

Continuous Improvement Engineer

Carson, CA · On-site

$70 - $101/hr

Permanent Contract duration : Full-time Required degree : Bachelor's Degree Required experience ... Join our first-class team to reinvent in-flight experience. In the role of Continuous Improvement ...

All JobsContract Flight Instructor JobsContract Flight Instructor Jobs in Santa Ana, CA

Contract Flight Instructor information

See Santa Ana, CA salary details

$26K

$98.5K

$151.4K

How much do contract flight instructor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract flight instructor in Santa Ana, CA is $98,459.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,800.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract flight instructor?

Contract Flight Instructors are certified pilots who provide flight training services on a contractual basis, rather than as full-time employees of a flight school or organization. They may work independently or for multiple employers, offering instruction in various types of aircraft or simulators. Their responsibilities typically include teaching students how to fly, preparing them for pilot certification, and ensuring adherence to aviation safety standards. Contract Flight Instructors often have flexible schedules and may also assist with recurrent training or specialized courses.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract flight instructor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Flight Instructor, you need a valid commercial pilot's license with instructor ratings, in-depth knowledge of aviation regulations, and significant flight experience. Familiarity with flight simulators, electronic logbooks, and training management systems is typically required, along with up-to-date certifications such as CFI or CFII. Exceptional communication, patience, and adaptability are essential soft skills for effectively teaching and mentoring diverse student pilots. These skills and qualifications ensure safe, effective flight training and help students achieve proficiency while maintaining regulatory compliance.

What are some common challenges faced by contract flight instructors, and how can they be managed?

Contract Flight Instructors often encounter challenges such as fluctuating student schedules, adapting to different aircraft types, and maintaining clear communication with both students and flight school management. Flexibility and strong organizational skills are key to managing these hurdles. Instructors should proactively coordinate with students to set reliable training sessions, keep their qualifications current for various aircraft, and foster an open line of communication with all parties to ensure smooth operations and effective learning.

What is the difference between Contract Flight Instructor vs Part-Time Flight Instructor?

AspectContract Flight InstructorPart-Time Flight Instructor
CredentialsCommercial Pilot Certificate, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)Commercial Pilot Certificate, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
Work EnvironmentSelf-employed or hired per contract, variable locationsPart-time employment at flight schools or flight training centers
Employer/Industry UsageHired directly by flight schools or as independent contractorsEmployed by flight schools on a part-time basis

Contract Flight Instructors typically work independently or on a contractual basis, often at multiple locations, while Part-Time Flight Instructors are employed by flight schools for limited hours. Both roles require similar certifications but differ mainly in employment structure and work arrangement.

What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Instructor jobs in Santa Ana, CA?

The most popular types of Flight Instructor jobs in Santa Ana, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Flight Instructor jobs in Santa Ana, CA?

For Contract Flight Instructor jobs in Santa Ana, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near Santa Ana, CA are hiring for Contract Flight Instructor jobs?

Cities near Santa Ana, CA with the most Contract Flight Instructor job openings:

Contract Flight Instructor jobs near you

Director of Business Development - Unmanned Systems

The Patriot Group

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Director of Business Development – UAS | Autonomy & Flight Control

Los Angeles / Hawthorne, CA · Hybrid · Up to 30% travel


ABOUT THE COMPANY

A private, 100% employee-owned (ESOP) engineering consulting and product development company with a 60+ year legacy of delivering safety-critical solutions to government and commercial customers. The company combines the agility and culture of a startup with the stability and credibility of a longstanding aerospace innovator, and its growth plans are ambitious — every employee plays a direct role in shaping what's next. The company looks for true business partners — people who value transparency, collaboration, technical excellence, ownership, and accountability. If you enjoy solving complex, real-world problems and want your work to have visible impact, you'll thrive here.


THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a Director of Business Development to drive growth specifically in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), with a focus on flight control systems, autopilots, guidance, navigation, and autonomy-enabled products. This role is tightly focused on building funded development programs and scalable commercial products around the company's core flight control and autonomy capabilities, and carries a significant government-relations component. Candidates with a strong government-interactions background are strongly preferred.

Success looks like diversifying how the company generates funded revenue: new contract vehicles (Phase III, OTA, IDIQ, sole-source), commercial product and licensing revenue, and direct relationships with government and commercial customers. Smaller, recurring wins in new areas count just as much as a single large award — the goal is expanding the company's reach and connection to the customer, not just growing what's already in motion.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

●     Drive new UAS business centered on flight control, autopilot, and autonomy software and hardware development

●     Lead the transition of existing SBIR/STTR-funded autonomy and flight control technologies into Phase III and non-SBIR contract vehicles, including sole-source awards, IDIQs, OTAs, BOAs, and FAR-based contracts

●     Identify and pursue commercial product, licensing, and recurring revenue opportunities for UAS flight control and autonomy solutions

●     Identify key strategic and ecosystem partners to support go-to-market strategy

●     Shape customer requirements and concepts of operations into executable development programs and product roadmaps

●     Own and grow the sales pipeline for flight control and autonomy products and services, with clear pipeline growth and conversion metrics

●     Build and maintain relationships with DoD program offices, autonomy leads, primes, integrators, and commercial UAS manufacturers

●     Lead capture activities, including solution shaping, teaming strategy, pricing inputs, and proposal development

●     Partner closely with technical leadership to ensure development efforts align with productization, scalability, and long-term reuse

●     Represent the company at UAS-focused conferences, industry days, and technical forums


QUALIFICATIONS

Required

●     5+ years of business development, capture, or program growth experience in UAS, defense, or aerospace markets

●     Existing contacts and relationships with government program staff who can engage on R&D and technology transfer projects

●     Demonstrated success transitioning early-stage development efforts (including SBIR/STTR) into Phase III, follow-on, or non-SBIR contract vehicles

●     Proven ability to drive funded development programs and commercial product opportunities through customer engagement, capture strategy, and contracting execution

●     Strong customer-facing skills, including executive-level briefings, relationship management, and negotiation

●     Experience working with DoD program offices, primes, integrators, and/or commercial UAS manufacturers

●     Ability to partner effectively with highly technical engineering teams without requiring hands-on technical expertise

●     Strong written and verbal communication skills

●     Active Secret security clearance (minimum)


Preferred

●     Pilot, instructor, or operational aviation experience

●     Experience in UAS, eVTOL, AAM, or UAM markets

●     Experience working with small, growth-oriented, employee-owned companies

●     Desire to contribute directly to aggressive growth targets and long-term company value creation

●     Direct experience or existing relationships supporting STRATFI/TACFI or similar SBIR/STTR Phase II-to-Phase III matching-funds transitions


COMPENSATION & LOGISTICS

●     Base salary: $150,000–$185,000 (DOE), plus performance-based incentives/commission tied directly to transitioned non-SBIR government contracts (Phase III, IDIQ task orders, sole-source awards) and commercial UAS product revenue

●     Total on-target earnings (OTE): $190,000–$240,000+, with upside driven by transitioned revenue and product commercialization

●     Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

●     401(k) Safe Harbor plan with company contribution

●     100% company-paid medical (HMO) for employees and dependents; dental and vision coverage

●     FSA / Dependent Care, Life and Long-Term Disability insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

●     Domestic travel up to 30%

●     Must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR/EAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident not affiliated with a foreign company/government, or political asylee)