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Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer Jobs in Washington

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 ...

Posted today

M.C. Dean, Inc

Control Engineer 2 - Manassas

Manassas, VA · On-site

$83K - $108K/yr

Control Engineers work in various applications including industrial controls, cybersecurity ... Assigns technical tasks and coordinates with entry-level engineers * Assigns tasks and coordinates ...

M.C. Dean, Inc

Control Engineer 2

Tysons, VA · On-site

$84K - $109K/yr

Control Engineers work in various applications including industrial controls, cybersecurity ... entry-level engineers o Assigns tasks and coordinates with Technical Staff Field Experience • ...

M.C. Dean, Inc

Control Engineer 3

Tysons, VA · On-site

$84K - $109K/yr

Control Engineers work in various applications including industrial controls, cybersecurity ... entry-level engineers o Assigns tasks and coordinates with Technical Staff Field Experience • ...

Electra Aero, Inc.

Simulation Engineer

Manassas, VA · Hybrid

$90K - $110K/yr

This is an early-career role with real ownership - you'll work directly with senior engineers to develop SIL/HIL labs for flight controls, avionics, and hybrid propulsion, and you'll grow quickly in ...

Electra

Simulation Engineer

Manassas, VA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

This is an early-career role with real ownership - you'll work directly with senior engineers to develop SIL/HIL labs for flight controls, avionics, and hybrid propulsion, and you'll grow quickly in ...

Electra

Simulation Engineer

Manassas, VA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

This is an early-career role with real ownership - you'll work directly with senior engineers to develop SIL/HIL labs for flight controls, avionics, and hybrid propulsion, and you'll grow quickly in ...

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Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer information

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.

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 are popular job titles related to Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer jobs in Washington? For Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer job openings:
Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Flight Controls Engineer job openings in Washington as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 11% Temporary, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution.

Flight Controls Engineer

Estes Aerospace

Vienna, VA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 23 hours ago

Posted today

Job description

You will design and build the flight control systems for rockets. You'll take your designs from concept all the way through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and live flight test.
What You'll Do
  • Design flight control systems for rockets using thrust vector control, aerodynamic surfaces, and novel actuation approaches
  • Develop and tune control laws (PID, LQR, nonlinear — whatever the problem calls for)
  • Build high-fidelity simulations of your control systems and the vehicles they fly on
  • Run hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing to validate your designs
  • See your work perform in the real world and feed those results back into your next design
What We're Looking For
  • Strong background in control theory and flight dynamics
  • Experience implementing and validating control systems in simulation
  • Comfort working across the hardware/software boundary — you understand both the math and the implementation
  • You like to iterate fast and test often, not wait for perfection
  • Bonus: experience with missile guidance or state estimation

This role is for 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 employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check and verification of information provided by the applicant. Background checks are conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, and criminal history will be considered only to the extent relevant to the position and permitted by law.

This position is subject to ITAR requirements and can only be filled by individuals who are U.S. Persons, as defined by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 C.F.R. § 120.62

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