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Director Flight Simulation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Elroy Air

Flight Sciences Engineer

Byron, CA · Hybrid

Transporting cargo by air is faster and more direct than by land or sea, but it has been ... Build and improve simulation environments used for envelope expansion, handling qualities ...

Elroy Air

Flight Sciences Engineer

Byron, CA · Hybrid

$203K - $280K/yr

Transporting cargo by air is faster and more direct than by land or sea, but it has been ... Build and improve simulation environments used for envelope expansion, handling qualities ...

Elroy Air

Flight Sciences Engineer

Byron, CA · On-site

Transporting cargo by air is faster and more direct than by land or sea, but it has been ... Build and improve simulation environments used for envelope expansion, handling qualities ...

Ring Inc

Director, Software Engineering

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$218K - $296K/yr

As the Director of Software Engineering at Hermeus, you will be responsible for overseeing the ... Experience with avionics systems, flight simulation environments, and autonomous vehicle software ...

Hermeus

Director, Software Engineering

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$218K - $296K/yr

As the Director of Software Engineering at Hermeus, you will be responsible for overseeing the ... Experience with avionics systems, flight simulation environments, and autonomous vehicle software ...

Astrolab

Lead Simulation Engineer

Hawthorne, CA

$142K - $235K/yr

The lead simulation engineer will be responsible for directing the technical work of the simulation ... flight software running on a flight computer or automobile simulation integrated with on-board ...

Astrolab

Lead Simulation Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

The lead simulation engineer will be responsible for directing the technical work of the simulation ... flight software running on a flight computer or automobile simulation integrated with on-board ...

Astrolab

Lead Simulation Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$142K - $235K/yr

The lead simulation engineer will be responsible for directing the technical work of the simulation ... flight software running on a flight computer or automobile simulation integrated with on-board ...

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Director Flight Simulation information

What are some typical challenges faced by a Director of Flight Simulation, and how can they be addressed?

A Director of Flight Simulation often faces challenges such as keeping simulation technology up to date, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing a diverse team of instructors, engineers, and support staff. Balancing the needs of pilots in training with operational constraints, such as simulator availability and maintenance downtime, is also common. These challenges can be addressed by fostering strong communication with stakeholders, staying informed about technological advancements, and implementing structured processes for scheduling and maintenance. Additionally, ongoing professional development and collaboration with aviation authorities help maintain high training standards.

What is the difference between Director Flight Simulation vs Flight Simulator Technician?

AspectDirector Flight SimulationFlight Simulator Technician
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in aviation, engineering, or related field; industry certificationsTechnical diploma or associate degree; specialized certifications
Work EnvironmentManagement of simulation programs, overseeing teams, strategic planningHands-on maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of flight simulators
Employer & Industry UsageAirlines, military, simulation centers, training organizationsSimulation centers, maintenance providers, aviation training facilities

The main difference is that the Director Flight Simulation oversees the entire simulation program and manages teams, while the Flight Simulator Technician focuses on the technical maintenance and repair of simulators. Both roles are essential in aviation training but differ in responsibilities and required credentials.

What does a Director of Flight Simulation do?

A Director of Flight Simulation oversees the development, implementation, and management of flight simulation programs within an airline, training center, or aviation organization. They are responsible for ensuring that simulators meet regulatory standards, managing simulator maintenance and upgrades, and coordinating training schedules for pilots and crew. This role often involves leadership of technical teams, budgeting for simulation resources, and staying updated with the latest advancements in simulation technology. They play a critical role in ensuring flight crews are thoroughly trained and prepared for real-world scenarios.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director Flight Simulation, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Flight Simulation, you need expertise in aviation training, simulation technology, and leadership, often supported by an advanced degree in aviation or engineering and significant experience in flight operations or simulator management. Familiarity with flight simulator hardware/software, regulatory compliance systems (such as FAA/EASA standards), and project management tools is typically required. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills help ensure effective coordination among teams and stakeholders. These qualifications are crucial for delivering high-quality, compliant training programs and maintaining operational excellence within aviation organizations.
What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Simulation jobs in California? The most popular types of Flight Simulation jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Director Flight Simulation jobs? Cities in California with the most Director Flight Simulation job openings:
Director Flight Simulation jobs near you
Flight Sciences Engineer

Flight Sciences Engineer

Elroy Air

Byron, CA • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

At Elroy Air, we build autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo drones to change the way the world moves goods. Transporting cargo by air is faster and more direct than by land or sea, but it has been prohibitively expensive for medium-size loads. We've set out to expand middle-mile logistics possibilities across multiple sectors, with our sights on a $420Bn global total addressable market for cargo logistics across defense, commercial and rapid response.
We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe that the defense, commercial, and rapid response communities need faster, better logistics solutions. We are seeing increasing demand as customers and prospects respond enthusiastically to the systems we've built. As we mature and deploy our offerings, we are looking for people like you: motivated collaborators, enthusiastic about our mission and ready to roll up their sleeves and make a big impact to improve how logistics works around the world. You will play an important role in establishing the Elroy Air Chaparral as the industry standard in this massive market.
We believe diverse perspectives at all levels of the organization are critical to innovation and employee development. This includes but is not limited to gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, age, ability, parenthood status, veteran status, educational background, citizenship status, or any combination of these characteristics.

As a Flight Sciences Engineer at Elroy Air, you will own performance analysis, flight dynamics, and configuration trades across our hybrid-electric lift+cruise VTOL program. You will be the analytical backbone of the vehicle team - reasoning across hover, transition, and cruise regimes, and working directly with propulsion, structures, and controls engineers to drive decisions from early concept through certification.

What you'll own:
  • Own vehicle performance modeling across hover, transition, and cruise: mission analysis, hybrid-electric energy management, climb optimization, and range/endurance trades
  • Build and maintain 6-DOF flight dynamics models for a lift+cruise configuration: aero database construction through the transition corridor, rotor-wing interaction modeling, stability derivatives, and trim analysis in hover, transition, and cruise
  • Contribute to vehicle design trades: feed flight sciences insight into OML shaping, drag reduction, control surface sizing, and flight controls architecture to close performance and handling qualities requirements
  • Derive external flight loads across the operational envelope and collaborate with the structures team to define limit and ultimate load cases, support fatigue analysis, and feed aeroelastic models
  • Support flight test planning, instrumentation requirements, and post-flight data reduction and analysis; correlate measured performance against analytical predictions
  • Build and improve simulation environments used for envelope expansion, handling qualities assessment, and controls development
  • Partner with propulsion and power teams to integrate hybrid-electric powertrain models into mission analysis; define power-required envelopes and binding constraints across the flight profile
  • Contribute to certification planning by authoring compliance analyses, performance substantiation reports, and supporting V&V documentation
Our Ideal Candidate
  • B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field
  • 5+ years of meaningful hands-on experience in flight sciences, vehicle performance, or flight dynamics
  • Proficiency in vehicle performance modeling: energy-based methods, point-mass and full 6-DOF simulation, power-required/available analysis
  • Experience building or working with aerodynamic databases and stability derivative sets for flight simulation or loads analysis
  • Familiarity with flight test methods: test card development, FTI requirements, data reduction, and prediction-to-flight correlation
  • Strong programming skills in Python and/or MATLAB for analysis, post-processing, and tool development
  • Solid understanding of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, or hybrid lift+cruise vehicle aeromechanics
  • Working proficiency with aerodynamic analysis tools across fidelity levels - from low-order methods (panel codes, blade element, XFOIL) through mid-fidelity (RANS CFD): sufficient to set up runs, interpret results, and interface with dedicated CFD engineers
  • Clear technical communication skills: able to distill complex analysis into concise summaries for engineering and program leadership
Bonus Points For:
  • Direct experience with eVTOL, tiltrotor, or lift+cruise configurations - including transition corridor analysis, transition schedule definition, and rotor-wing aerodynamic interaction
  • Background in hybrid-electric propulsion performance modeling: energy management strategy, battery sizing trades, and BSFC/TSFC integration into mission analysis
  • Experience designing internal flows, including ducting, intakes, and cooling flows
  • Rotor and/or propeller design experience
  • Handling qualities assessment experience using ADS-33 or FAA/EASA equivalents
  • Exposure to flight simulation environments: JSBSim, Simulink/FlightGear, or equivalent
  • Experience with certification under FAA Part 23, Part 27, or EASA SC-VTOL frameworks
  • Background in aeroelastics or structural loads as they relate to flight envelope definition
What We Offer:
  • Competitive salary
  • Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced aerospace company
  • Comprehensive medical benefits
  • 401(k) with company contribution + Roth IRA
  • Free daily lunch provided onsite
  • Flexible time-off policy
  • 3 months of paid parental leave
  • Employee assistance program with 24/7 support
  • High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
  • Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement
  • You'll work with a motivated, kind, and highly skilled team
  • You'll help shape and define our company culture and values
  • You'll help build and scale a new category of aerospace / logistics technology
$203,000 - $280,000 a year

We encourage you to apply even if you aren't an exact match for our open role as many of our team members come from nontraditional backgrounds.
Elroy Air is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.
We are committed to an inclusive, harassment-free workplace and we gladly provide reasonable accommodations to support our team.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder). All employees will be screened through E-Verify.

Elroy Air does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters that we do not have a written agreement with and all employment activities are managed through our internal team. We reserve the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes received without being responsible for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes.

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.
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