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Flight Control Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Droneforge

Flight Controls Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

We're hiring a Flight Controls / Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer to help move these systems from controlled indoor environments into reliable outdoor operation. You'll analyze real flight ...

General Atomics

Flight Controls Engineer

Poway, CA · On-site

Develop flight control and algorithm improvements based on engineering design principles. Utilize varying methodologies including classical controls, linear and non-linear modeling, air vehicle and ...

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Flight Control Engineer information

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$81

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How much do flight control engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for flight control engineer in California is $81.16, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76.39 and $89.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a flight control engineer?

Flight Control Engineers are professionals who design, develop, test, and maintain the flight control systems in aircraft and spacecraft. These systems include the hardware and software that allow pilots or automated systems to control the movement and stability of the vehicle during flight. Flight Control Engineers work closely with other aerospace engineers to ensure that these systems are safe, reliable, and meet regulatory standards. Their work is crucial for both manned and unmanned vehicles, including commercial airplanes, military jets, and drones.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a flight control engineer?

To thrive as a Flight Control Engineer, you need a strong background in aerospace engineering, control systems theory, and mathematics, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink, programming languages such as C/C++, and knowledge of FAA regulations or DO-178C certification are commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication set candidates apart in collaborative, high-stakes environments. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of aircraft flight control systems.

What are some common challenges faced by flight control engineers when integrating new technologies into existing aircraft systems?

Flight Control Engineers often encounter challenges when incorporating new technologies into established aircraft systems, such as ensuring compatibility with legacy hardware and software, maintaining compliance with strict aviation safety regulations, and minimizing disruptions to current flight operations. These engineers must work closely with multidisciplinary teams—including software developers, avionics specialists, and certification authorities—to troubleshoot issues and validate system performance through rigorous testing and simulation. Successfully navigating these challenges requires strong communication skills, adaptability, and a deep understanding of both modern and traditional flight control architectures.

What is the difference between Flight Control Engineer vs Flight Test Engineer?

AspectFlight Control EngineerFlight Test Engineer
Required CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in avionics or control systemsEngineering degree, certifications in testing or aerospace engineering
Work EnvironmentDesign, develop, and analyze flight control systems in labs and aircraftPlan, execute, and analyze flight test missions
Employer & IndustryAerospace companies, aircraft manufacturersAerospace testing organizations, aircraft manufacturers

Flight Control Engineers focus on designing and improving aircraft control systems, while Flight Test Engineers conduct flight tests to validate these systems. Both roles require aerospace engineering backgrounds and collaborate closely during aircraft development. The main difference lies in their focus: design versus testing.

What are popular job titles related to Flight Control Engineer jobs in California?

For Flight Control Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Flight Control Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Flight Control Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Flight Control Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Flight Control Engineer job openings:

Flight Control Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Control Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $168,811 per year, or $81.2 per hour.

Flight Controls Engineer

Droneforge

El Segundo, CA • On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

Other

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

$120K-140K BASE SALARY + EQUITY + BENEFITS


WHO WE ARE:

Droneforge builds low-cost autonomous aerial systems designed to accomplish real work in real environments. We combine our own hardware, autonomy software, and programmable FPV drones to make capable robotic deployments dramatically more accessible and scalable. We’re hiring a Flight Controls / Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer to help move these systems from controlled indoor environments into reliable outdoor operation. You’ll analyze real flight data, identify system dynamics, improve state estimation, tune controllers, design experiments, and validate your work on physical aircraft.


ROLE DESCRIPTION:

This is a full-time, on-site Flight Controls / GNC Engineer role based in El Segundo, CA. You will design, implement, and test the control and state-estimation systems that enable our low-cost autonomous UAVs to operate reliably in real-world environments. Your work will include modeling vehicle and sensor dynamics, identifying systems from flight data, tuning control laws, integrating flight-control software with our autonomy OS, and validating performance through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and physical flight tests. You will diagnose instability, sensor noise, latency, and tracking failures, then turn those findings into production improvements. You will own the majority of this pipeline and iterate quickly; your code and control systems will directly affect more than 200 active deployments.


Qualifications

  • Strong foundation in classical and modern flight-control theory, including plant modeling, system identification, Laplace transforms, transfer functions, state-space representations, stability analysis, frequency-domain methods, and feedback-controller design.
  • Familiarity with state estimation and sensor fusion—including Kalman filters—and the ability to apply these concepts to aerial systems with noisy sensors, communication delays, and imperfect models.
  • Knowledge of aerospace engineering and aerodynamics principles relevant to unmanned-aircraft performance and stability.
  • Understanding of aircraft-design concepts, including configuration tradeoffs, stability, and actuator or control-surface integration.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

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