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Entry Level Flight Test Engineer Jobs in New York

Homerun B.V.

Director, UAS Flight Operations

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$110 - $160/hr

Collaboration with our engineering team will be crucial as you plan, execute, and report on test activities. Success in this role hinges on your ability to adapt to new requirements and manage flight ...

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Entry Level Flight Test Engineer information

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$47.6K

$147.6K

$223.2K

How much do entry level flight test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level flight test engineer in New York is $147,568.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,400.00 and $175,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an entry level flight test engineer do?

An Entry Level Flight Test Engineer supports the planning, execution, and analysis of flight tests for aircraft and aerospace systems. They assist in developing test plans, collecting data, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring compliance with safety and performance standards. This role involves working closely with senior engineers, pilots, and technicians to validate aircraft functionality and system performance. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a foundational understanding of aerodynamics and avionics are essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level flight test engineer?

To thrive as an Entry Level Flight Test Engineer, you need a background in aerospace or mechanical engineering, a solid understanding of aerodynamics and data analysis, and often a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with data acquisition systems, control theory, flight simulation software, and sometimes certification in FAA or military testing protocols are important technical aspects. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication skills help set candidates apart. These abilities ensure safe, accurate testing and successful collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, which are crucial for developing and validating aircraft performance.

What types of projects or aircraft could I expect to work on as an entry level flight test engineer?

As an Entry Level Flight Test Engineer, you may work on a variety of flight test campaigns, ranging from testing new aircraft prototypes to evaluating modifications on existing platforms, such as fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Early in your career, your responsibilities may include supporting instrumentation setup, assisting in mission planning, and collecting and analyzing test data under the guidance of senior engineers. You’ll likely rotate through different project teams, gaining exposure to various flight systems, test protocols, and data analysis techniques. This hands-on experience provides valuable insight into the full aircraft development and certification process while supporting your professional growth in the aerospace field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in New York?

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Entry Level Flight Test Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Flight Test Engineer job openings in New York as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,568 per year, or $70.9 per hour.

Flight Controls Engineer

New York, NY • On-site

Valinor Enterprises
See more jobs at Valinor Enterprisesexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 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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