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Contract Flight Test Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

Staff Flight Test Engineer

California, MO · 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

Hollister, 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 ...

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 ...

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

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 ...

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)

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 ...

Flight Test Engineer

Las Vegas, NV · On-site

$92K - $117K/yr

Rather than serving as a full-time pilot, this engineer will lead and oversee flight test activities while working closely with engineers, technicians, and test pilots throughout the product ...

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 Sep 13, 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.

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Infographic showing various Contract Flight Test Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $134,885 per year, or $64.8 per hour.

Flight Test Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Anduril Industries
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 501 - 1,000 employees

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

The Test and Evaluation team at Anduril plays a crucial role in our mission, ensuring that every product meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. Our team conducts full system level development testing, new production acceptance testing, software validation testing and much more. 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 autonomous vehicle specializing in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. You will be responsible for the evaluation of the software and hardware capabilities for operational suitability as well as Altius's integration into the full suite of Anduril systems to complete complex operations.
What you'll do

  • As a flight test engineer, under minimal supervision, you will be responsible for test planning, execution, reporting, and evaluating the system under test (software and/or hardware).
  • Test duties include:
  • Support and plan test events conducted at test sites as required by the specific test.
  • Configuration management of test owned assets. This includes specific to test configuration management (hardware components, specific payloads, software/firmware configuration) as well as fleet management (facilitate and track required maintenance, planning/assigning asset requirements for current testing and future efforts).
  • Generation of evaluation test plans and reports focusing on system functionality and suitability of software and hardware integration efforts. In addition to technical test planning, planning includes safety (risk, hazards, develop mitigations) and logistical (available hardware, airspace, personnel resources, timeline/scheduling).
  • Generate and execute test cards, conduct pre and post flight briefings, and manage test events with diverse support teams (pilots, engineering subject matter experts (SME), operations). Testing execution will include operating Altius when conducting system evaluation testing.
  • Collaborate with SMEs and cross functional teams within the business line through development and production testing, reporting of test findings, and test status. This includes adjudication of testing tasks and characterization of issues, observations, and detailing results.
  • Interface daily with hardware and software engineering teams.
  • Collect metrics for flight test events to include sortie information and delays.

Required Qualifications

  • A bachelor's degree or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution
  • Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly; apply them accurately; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
  • Must have strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills. Must play in active role in strengthening communication channels both within the team and externally (engineering, program leadership, operations).
  • Methodical, thorough, and detail oriented.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas.
  • Willingness to learn new skills and concepts.
  • Current or able to acquire an FAA 14 CFR Part 107: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems certification.
  • Current or able to acquire an FAA 14 CFR Part 61: Certification Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors (ground test complete is the ONLY requirement).
  • Previous experience or working knowledge of National Airspace and UAS operating guidelines and regulations.
  • Ability to obtain a security clearance.
  • Able to work extended hours as required.
  • Ability to travel as required for planning and testing.
  • In this role, you will be subject to pre-employment and randomized substance screening, as required by the Company.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Strong software and documentation experience; familiarity with Linux based operating systems, networking, ssh, and command line.
  • 1-3 years flight test engineering or system level testing experience.
  • Knowledge and experience with Group 2/3 fixed wing systems
  • Experience working DOD programs.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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