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Contract Flight Test Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Staff Flight Test Engineer

Marina, CA · On-site

$173K - $219K/yr

Overview Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Staff Fight Test Engineer to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to be a technical leader in a broad scope of ...

Staff Flight Test Engineer

Marina, CA · On-site

$173K - $219K/yr

Overview Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Staff Fight Test Engineer to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to be a technical leader in a broad scope of ...

Flight Test Engineer

Huntington Beach, CA · On-site

$105K - $180K/yr

This position will specialize in flight test engineering, operations, and testing of developing UAS aircraft. You will report directly to the head of flight ops and work with system engineering leads ...

Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Staff Fight Test Engineer to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to be a technical leader in a broad scope of the ...

This position is looking for a highly motivated flight test engineer with emphasis in software/hardware capability development and evaluation for the Altius UAS platform. Altius is a Group 2/3 ...

Flight Test Engineer

San Clemente, CA · On-site

$112 - $149/hr

As a Flight Test Engineer you will partner with the Ghost engineering to be responsible for test planning, execution, reporting, and evaluating the system under test (software and/or hardware)

Staff Flight Test Engineer

California, MO · On-site

$173.70 - $219/hr

Overview Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Staff Fight Test Engineer to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to be a technical leader in a broad scope of ...

Overview We are seeking a full-time Senior Flight Test Engineer for Garmin's Mesa, AZ location. In this role, you will be responsible for providing technical leadership in performance of complex ...

Flight Test Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$85 - $110/hr

Flight Test Engineer As a Flight Test Engineer at Castelion, you will be working within the Test Operations and Logistics team to execute a rapid iterative development and test campaign. You will ...

Overview Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Staff Fight Test Engineer to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to be a technical leader in a broad scope of ...

Flight Test Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$90K - $135K/yr

As Flight Test Engineer at MORSE, you are a critical member of the team taking vehicles from concept to flight leading fast-paced, iterative, and rigorous test campaigns managing both local and ...

The Flight Test Engineer makes sure every Icarus flight produces clean, trustworthy engineering data. You build the test cards and criteria, oversee their execution in the field, jump in on parameter ...

The Flight Test Engineer makes sure every Icarus flight produces clean, trustworthy engineering data. You build the test cards and criteria, oversee their execution in the field, jump in on parameter ...

Air Force, Space Force, and Navy under the Joint Range Technical Services Contract, better known as ... Flight Test Engineers at the 418th ensure safe, effective, and efficient test * Leads flight test ...

The Flight Test Engineer makes sure every Icarus flight produces clean, trustworthy engineering data. You build the test cards and criteria, oversee their execution in the field, jump in on parameter ...

Showing results 41-60

Contract Flight Test Engineer information

See salary details

$43.5K

$134.9K

$204K

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

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract flight test engineer in the United States is $134,885.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,500.00 and $160,000.00 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.

More about Contract Flight Test Engineer jobs

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Cities with the most Contract Flight Test Engineer job openings:

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Infographic showing various Contract Flight Test Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $134,885 per year, or $64.8 per hour.

Staff Flight Test Engineer

Joby Aviation

Marina, CA • On-site

$173K - $219K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

Company Overview

Imagine a piloted air taxi that takes off vertically, then quietly carries you and your fellow passengers over the congested city streets below, enabling you to spend more time with the people and places that matter most. At Joby, we've been working to make that dream a reality since 2009 and we're now in the final stages of certifying our aircraft with the FAA. With plans to launch our aircraft in the US and Dubai, we're now scaling manufacturing and preparing for the launch of our commercial service.

Overview

Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Staff Fight Test Engineer to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to be a technical leader in a broad scope of the flight test program. Utilizing a wide range of knowledge and skill you'll be intimately involved in day-to-day operation such as developing detailed flight test plans for experimental CTOL/VTOL fly-by-wire aircraft, executing testing as a crewmember, and analyzing test data. The role involves developing flight test program strategies as well as execution of both development and certification flight tests.  The successful candidate may be given an opportunity to lead a team of flight test engineers.Flight testing at Joby Aviation is very fast-paced, and we are looking for an individual who can work with system designers to develop test procedures, deal with frequently changing test scenarios, and lead/follow effectively. While the flight test team is based in California, opportunities exist for various deployment missions around the world. This role can be based at our Flight Test Headquarters at Marina, CA, or at our secondary flight test facility in Hollister, CA.

Responsibilities
  • As a technical leader, manage the flight test program in the assigned technical/operational areas.
  • Provide mentorship and guidance to junior flight test engineers in the assigned technical area.
  • Collaborate with leads in the Flight Test team to implement/improve flight test processes.
  • Develop test programs to strategically expand the envelope and capabilities of our vehicles from experimental development through certification flight test.
  • Perform flight test planning, flight readiness reviews, flight briefs/debriefs, act as a crewmember during test execution and perform post flight data analysis.
  • Conducts engineering analysis of flight test data to support aircraft design and certification deliverables.
  • Coordinates with other engineering groups to ensure input from subject matter experts informs test planning and test execution.
  • Works as a member of the flight crew including monitoring data in real time to assure the safety and proper conduct of flight tests.
  • Reports on completed tests including reporting any observed deficiencies and findings of compliance with requirements or regulations.
  • Advises the flight test pilot of the nature of the data to inform real time decisions affecting safety, efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Develop expert level knowledge of the systems and aircraft under test.
  • Completes administrative work associated with testing including configuration management, squawk reporting, flight limitation management and test card creation.
  • Assists with troubleshooting and root cause investigation of issues observed during flight testing.
  • Develops flight manuals and supporting documentation necessary to operate the vehicles in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.
  • Other duties as assigned or required.
Required
  • Bachelor of Science (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or other technical field) degree or equivalent experience and training.
  • A minimum of 10 years of experimental flight test experience as a Flight Test Engineer.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with colleagues across a wide range of technical disciplines.
  • Strong technical and analytical skills.
  • Must be able to work both independently and on a team and be able to work extended hours and travel as required.
  • Read and speak English proficiently.
  • At least 30% travel required
Desired
  • Experience in managing a technical team.
  • FTE graduate of a recognized test pilot school or equivalent, or on-the-job experience.
  • Data analysis experience using Matlab, Python or similar.
  • Civil aircraft certification experience including use of ARP 4754 processes for requirements and FAA AC 23-8C or AC 27-1B for flight test.
  • Experimental flight test experience as a Flight Test Engineer, preferably including VTOL or STOVL and fly-by-wire.
  • Flight Analyst DER or ODA Unit Member.
  • Familiarity with FAA Order 4040.26C.

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $173,700 - $219,000/yr. The compensation package will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Joby also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan with a company match, an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.

Additional Information

Joby Aviation is an equal opportunity employer.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME