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Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Estes Aerospace

Flight Controls Engineer

Vienna, VA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

... engineers who want to close the loop -- not just model a system, but actually fly it. There's nothing quite like that first flight test. Estes Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes ...

Estes Aerospace

Flight Controls Engineer

Vienna, VA · On-site

... engineers who want to close the loop -- not just model a system, but actually fly it. There's nothing quite like that first flight test. Estes Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes ...

Skyways

Senior Flight Controls Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

The Opportunity This is a hands-on controls role on a small, fast moving GNC team. You will own ... Analyze flight logs, find root cause, and turn findings into control fixes. * Write and own flight ...

Skyways

Senior Flight Controls Engineer

Austin, TX

The Opportunity This is a hands-on controls role on a small, fast moving GNC team. You will own ... Analyze flight logs, find root cause, and turn findings into control fixes. * Write and own flight ...

Skyways

Senior Flight Controls Engineer

Austin, TX

The Opportunity This is a hands-on controls role on a small, fast moving GNC team. You will own ... Analyze flight logs, find root cause, and turn findings into control fixes. * Write and own flight ...

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How much do entry level flight controls engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level flight controls engineer in the United States is $82.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77.40 and $90.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an entry level flight controls engineer do?

An Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer assists in the design, development, testing, and implementation of flight control systems for aircraft. Their responsibilities typically include working with senior engineers to create control algorithms, conducting simulations, analyzing data from flight tests, and troubleshooting system issues. They may also help ensure that flight control systems meet safety and regulatory standards. This role is ideal for recent engineering graduates looking to start a career in the aerospace industry.

What types of projects and responsibilities can an entry level flight controls engineer expect during their first year?

As an Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer, you will typically start by supporting senior engineers on ongoing projects, such as designing, analyzing, and testing control systems for aircraft. Your daily tasks may involve running simulations, documenting test results, and assisting with the integration of hardware and software components. You'll also collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams—including systems, software, and test engineers—to troubleshoot issues and implement design improvements. This hands-on experience provides valuable exposure to the full development cycle and builds a strong foundation for future advancement within the aerospace industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level flight controls engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace or mechanical engineering, with strong knowledge of control systems and dynamics, typically supported by a relevant bachelor's degree. Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink, CAD software, and programming languages like C/C++ is important, along with exposure to industry standards and modeling tools. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork and communication skills help set candidates apart. These skills are crucial for designing, analyzing, and optimizing flight control systems to ensure aircraft safety and performance.

What is the difference between Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer vs Flight Controls Technician?

AspectEntry Level Flight Controls EngineerFlight Controls Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineeringAssociate degree or technical certification in avionics or related field
Work EnvironmentDesign, development, testing, and analysis in engineering labs or officesMaintenance, troubleshooting, and repair in hangars or on aircraft
Employer & Industry UsageAircraft manufacturers, aerospace companies, defense contractorsAirlines, maintenance facilities, aerospace service providers

Entry Level Flight Controls Engineers focus on designing and testing flight control systems, requiring engineering degrees. Flight Controls Technicians perform hands-on maintenance and troubleshooting, often with technical certifications. Both roles are essential in the aerospace industry but differ in responsibilities and work settings.

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Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $171,051 per year, or $82.2 per hour.

Flight Controls Engineer

Valinor Enterprises

New York, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

Valinor is a new type of defense and government tech company focused on solving the problems others don't. Our model of centralized go-to-market and decentralized engineering lets us move fast: identify unmet needs, build right-sized solutions, and get products into the hands of users. While others chase the flashy problems, Valinor exists to solve the quiet, unaddressed ones, the small but significant problems that lead to cracks in the country's strength, stability, and security.
Backed by General Catalyst, Founders Fund, and Friends & Family Capital, Valinor was founded in 2024 and has strategic partnerships with Palantir, Anduril, and Helsing. We're building the dream team, and we want you on it.
About The Role
Valinor Condor is building the next generation of autonomous VTOL aircraft for defense and enterprise. We're a small, technical team moving fast. Our vehicle is flying, our customers are real, and the work spans simulation to the field.
We're looking for a Flight Controls Engineer to own the guidance, navigation, and control stack on our VTOL platform. This is a senior individual contributor role with direct ownership of flight performance, from control law architecture to day-of-demo tuning. You'll work directly with the Chief Engineer as our technical authority on everything from transition logic and rate controller design to aero modeling and stability analysis.
What You'll Do
Flight Controls & Tuning
  • Own the full flight controls / GNC stack: PX4 code, VTOL transition logic, fixed-wing control laws (TECS, NPFG, attitude/rate loops), and the multicopter controller
  • Design, implement, and iterate on control laws; translate controller designs into flight-validated parameters and tune the aircraft in the field
  • Run structured flight test campaigns: define test cards, instrument logging, execute in-field, and close the loop with data-driven analysis
  • Debug flight anomalies from logs, root-causing across the sensor, estimator, controller, and actuator layers

Dynamics & Aero Modeling
  • Build and maintain the flight dynamics model; extract and validate aero coefficients from flight data and CFD outputs
  • Write precise scopes of work for CFD contractors; review and integrate their outputs into the aero model
  • Develop and maintain a Simulink-based 6DOF simulation environment for control law prototyping, linearization, and stability margin analysis, de-risking parameter changes before they hit hardware

Systems & Integration
  • Partner with the software team on autopilot integration, sensor fusion, and estimator config (EKF tuning, IMU/GPS/baro)
  • Support customer demonstrations; ensure the vehicle performs reliably under operational conditions

What We're Looking For
Required
  • 4+ years of hands-on flight controls / GNC experience on real flying hardware
  • Deep familiarity with PX4 (or a comparable open-source autopilot): you've tuned it, debugged it, and modified it
  • Fixed-wing or VTOL platform experience
  • Ability to read flight logs to diagnose control system issues (PX4 log analysis, PlotJuggler)
  • Familiarity with aero modeling pipelines (CFD output → stability derivatives → flight dynamics model)
  • Python for log analysis, simulation, and tooling; MATLAB/Simulink for control design and 6DOF modeling equally valued
  • Strong fundamentals: classical and modern control theory, rigid body dynamics, state estimation
  • Comfortable in the field. You've executed flight tests, not just designed them on paper

Preferred
  • TECS, NPFG, or L1 guidance implementations
  • EKF-based state estimators (GPS/IMU/baro fusion)
  • MAVLink or similar UAV communication protocols
  • Familiarity with NDAA compliance for UAS hardware
  • Experience supporting operational customer demonstrations or field deployments

What Valinor Offers
  • Competitive salary, equity, and benefits: health, dental, and vision fully covered for employees, 401(k), development stipends, and more
  • Unlimited PTO and a two-week company holiday at the end of every year
  • A pro-mental-health, pro-family company. We encourage employees to spend real time with themselves and their families, and provide fertility benefits for those beginning that journey
  • A fun environment. We laugh and take care of each other, and we deeply respect the mission in front of us

This role requires the candidate be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance preferred, but not required.
Valinor is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Valinor team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense and government technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you!

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