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Fighter Jet Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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AIRPLANE PILOT

Mcconnell Air Force Base, KS · On-site

$131K/yr

For position requiring the piloting of fighter jet aircraft (e.g., F-16, A-10, F-15, F-22), each hours as First Pilot and/or Instructor Pilot in a fighter jet aircraft may be counted as two hours of ...

Solcoa Industries

R&D Technician

Alameda, CA · On-site

$100K - $145K/yr

We've developed a new chemistry that converts rare earth oxides into high-purity metals - the materials inside every EV, fighter jet, wind turbine, and data center - cleaner, cheaper, and faster than ...

Solcoa Industries

R&D Technician

Alameda, CA · On-site

We've developed a new chemistry that converts rare earth oxides into high-purity metals - the materials inside every EV, fighter jet, wind turbine, and data center - cleaner, cheaper, and faster than ...

Solcoa Industries

Mechanical Engineering Intern

Alameda, CA · On-site

$21.25 - $28.50/hr

We've developed a new chemistry that converts rare earth oxides into high-purity metals - the materials inside every EV, fighter jet, wind turbine, and data center - cleaner, cheaper, and faster than ...

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Fighter Jet information

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$28.5K

$59.6K

$100K

How much do fighter jet jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for fighter jet in the United States is $59,606.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,500.00 and $69,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a fighter jet?

Fighter jets are fast, highly maneuverable military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat against other aircraft. They are equipped with advanced avionics, powerful engines, and a variety of weapons systems, allowing them to engage enemy targets in the air and sometimes on the ground. Fighter jets play a crucial role in maintaining air superiority during military operations and can also perform reconnaissance and ground attack missions. Modern fighter jets are often equipped with stealth technology, making them less detectable by radar.

What are some common challenges faced by fighter jet pilots during training and in active duty?

Fighter jet pilots often face intense physical and mental challenges, including mastering complex aircraft systems, maintaining situational awareness at high speeds, and enduring high G-forces during maneuvers. Training is rigorous and ongoing, requiring quick decision-making and the ability to perform under pressure. Additionally, pilots must work closely with ground crews, air traffic controllers, and mission planners to ensure safety and mission success. Balancing these demands with personal resilience and teamwork is key to thriving in this high-stakes role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a fighter jet pilot, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Fighter Jet Pilot, you need advanced aeronautical knowledge, superior physical fitness, and completion of rigorous military flight training programs. Proficiency with avionics systems, navigation technology, and weapons control systems is typically required, often supported by military certifications such as completion of Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). Strong decision-making, situational awareness, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for ensuring mission success, personal safety, and effective team operations in high-stakes environments.

What is the difference between Fighter Jet vs Pilot?

AspectFighter JetPilot
Required CredentialsMilitary pilot training, aviation licenses, specialized fighter jet trainingCommercial or private pilot licenses, flight training, aviation certifications
Work EnvironmentMilitary airbases, combat zones, training facilitiesAirlines, private companies, charter services, airports
Industry UsageMilitary defense, combat missions, air superiorityPassenger transport, cargo, private flying

While both Fighter Jets and pilots involve aviation skills, Fighter Jets refer to military aircraft operated by trained military pilots for defense and combat, whereas pilots can also include commercial or private pilots flying non-military aircraft. The key differences lie in training, work environment, and industry focus.

What jobs work on fighter jets?

Jobs that work on fighter jets include aerospace engineers, aircraft mechanics, avionics technicians, and pilots. These roles involve designing, maintaining, repairing, and operating fighter jets, often requiring specialized training, certifications, and working in military or defense industry environments.
More about Fighter Jet jobs

What states have the most Fighter Jet jobs?

States with the most job openings for Fighter Jet jobs include:

Fighter Jet jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fighter Jet job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,606 per year, or $28.7 per hour.

Staff Robotics Software Engineer, Air Vehicle Autonomy

Costa Mesa, CA

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

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Great coworkers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Learn more about Anduril Industriesexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Air Dominance & Strike team at Anduril develops aerial and multi-domain robotic systems. The team is responsible for taking products like Fury (unmanned fighter jet) and Barracuda (air-breathing cruise missile) from concept to product. The team also develops Lattice for Mission Autonomy, Anduril's premier software platform that enables masses of Fury, Barracuda, and other first and third party robots to collaborate across various missions. We work in close coordination with specialist teams like Perception, Motion Planning, Hardware, and Test Engineering to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers. We are looking for software engineers and roboticists excited about creating a powerful autonomy software stack that includes computer vision, motion planning, SLAM, controls, estimation, and secure communications.
WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Write and maintain core libraries and services that perform critical functions for collaborative teams of robots - for example, motion deconfliction and contingency management of fast mover air vehicles.
  • Own major feature development and rollout of large, complex features for our products - recent examples include developing terminal-phase autonomy for various air vehicles and developing a test plan on live surrogates.
  • Work closely with Anduril and 3rd party vehicle hardware teams, as well as operational subject matter experts (fighter pilots, UAV operators, etc.) to align on requirements during product development and iterate towards a final design.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance
  • BS in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
  • 10+ years experience in one or more of the following: motion planning, perception, localization, mapping, controls, and related system performance metrics.
  • Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, set technical direction, and manage full project lifecycles from concept to deployment.
  • Deep understanding of integrating various sensor systems and utilizing various techniques for perception and decision-making.
  • Experience troubleshooting and analyzing remotely deployed software systems
  • Experience working with and testing electrical and mechanical systems
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • MS or PhD
  • Python, Rust, and/or Go experience
  • Experience programming for embedded and physical devices
  • Multi-agent coordination of UAVs
  • Complex frame transformation problems, such as target localization or multi degree of freedom robotic arms
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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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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.

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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