ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Contract Flight Test Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Shield AI

Propulsion Test Engineer (R4380)

Mundelein, IL

$150K - $230K/yr

You will work closely with propulsion engineers, flight test teams, autonomy developers, instrumentation specialists, and safety organizations to define test objectives, assess risk, and deliver the ...

Synaptein Solutions inc

Automation Test Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$47.50 - $62.50/hr

Automation Test Engineer Location: Chicago, IL Duration: 6+ Month Contract Qualifications & Required Skills • 8+ years Automated Testing experience • Good hands-on experience on automation ...

Trigyn Technologies

Sr. Test Engineer

Chicago, IL

Trigyn's direct client is looking for Test Engineer for contract assignment in Chicago, IL. General Responsibilities: Schedule and implement automated software tests. Identify and solve problems at ...

Trigyn Technologies

Sr. Test Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Trigyn's direct client is looking for Test Engineer for contract assignment in Chicago, IL. General Responsibilities: • Schedule and implement automated software tests. • Identify and solve ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsContract Flight Test Engineer JobsContract Flight Test Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Contract Flight Test Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$44.8K

$139K

$210.2K

How much do contract flight test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract flight test engineer in Chicago, IL is $138,951.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $108,700.00 and $164,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Contract Flight Test Engineer vs Contract Aerospace Test Engineer?

AspectContract Flight Test EngineerContract Aerospace Test Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in aerospace or mechanical engineering, FAA certifications often preferredBachelor's in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering, with similar certifications
Work EnvironmentOn aircraft, test ranges, and flight test facilitiesLaboratories, ground testing facilities, and flight environments
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily aerospace and defense companies conducting flight testsAirlines, aerospace manufacturers, and defense contractors involved in testing

While both roles involve testing aerospace systems, Contract Flight Test Engineers focus on in-flight testing of aircraft, whereas Contract Aerospace Test Engineers may work on ground-based or integrated system testing. The roles often overlap in credentials and industry, but their primary work environments differ.

What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Contract Flight Test Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Contract Flight Test Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Contract Flight Test Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Flight Test Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Contract Flight Test Engineer jobs near you

Flight Test Engineer, Staff (R5006)

Shield AI

Mundelein, IL

$120K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:
Shield AI is seeking an experienced Flight Test Engineer to plan, execute, analyze, and improve ground and flight test operations for a fast-paced next gen aircraft system. You will work closely across several segment owners of engineering, operations, autonomy, systems integration, product support, and manufacturing.  
What you'll do:
  • Develop, publish, and execute comprehensive flight test plans, procedures, cards, risk assessments, safety, and readiness reviews 
  • Support integration and test of aircraft systems, payloads, comms/data links, software, ground control systems, and mission equipment 
  • Lead and coordinate pre-flight, flight, and post-flight activities, including system configuration, instrumentation, telemetry, data collection and test reports 
  • Analyze ground and flight test data to identify performance trends, anomalies, root causes, and corrective actions 
  • Coordinate with engineering teams to validate requirements, troubleshoot issues, and mature system capabilities 
  • Lead or participate in test range operations, safety briefings, go/no-go decisions, and test setup and logistics  
  • Document test results, lessons learned, anomalies, and recommendations in clear technical reports 
  • Support aircraft maintenance, configuration control, and system readiness 
  • Create and improve flight test processes, tools, data workflows, and operational efficiency 
  • Create and maintain ground and air operating limitations requirements  
  • Travel to test sites, customer locations, and field exercises as required 
Required qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree) 
  • 5-10 years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned/manned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering 
  • Strong understanding of aircraft systems, flight dynamics, avionics, telemetry, sensors, or control systems  
  • Proven ability to write and execute structured test plans, procedures, and reports 
  • Strong troubleshooting skills in field and/or lab environments 
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to work across engineering and operations teams 
  • Willingness to travel and work outdoors, fields, or test range environments 
  • Overtime and weekend coverage as required 
Preferred qualifications:
  • 10+ years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering 
  • Experience in Group 4-5 UAS and/or fighter type capability or similar weapons systems 
  • Familiarity with FAA, DoW, and test range flight operations 
  • Experience with autonomy, navigation, mission planning, and Command-and-Control (C2) systems 
  • Hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance, avionics integration, payload integration, and ground support equipment  
  • Experience with telemetry systems, flight and data logs, sensor data, datalinks, and RF systems 
  • Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or crewed aviation experience 
  • Proven Mission Control Room experience using Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS) or similar development FTI display system  
  • Experience leading or supporting developmental flight test campaigns from design through planning and execution to include reporting 
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is practical, detail-oriented engineer who is comfortable in control rooms, hangar/maintenance areas, and office type environments. You can write a detailed test plan, troubleshoot hardware and software at a test site, analyze flight data, and communicate clearly under operational pressure. You are safety-minded, have high technical acumen, and motivated by building and validating advanced and complex aircraft systems 
 
#LI-JM1
#LD

Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
 
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
 
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
 
###
 
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.