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Flight Control Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

General Atomics

Engineer VI

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$116K - $208K/yr

Translate the physics of flight control avionics, aerodynamic characteristics, and mass properties ... May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education. * Relevant background in the ...

Hermeus

Flight Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$105K - $125K/yr

Develop and maintain embedded flight software for our aircraft systems, including flight control, navigation, communication, and avionics systems. * Collaborate with hardware engineers to ensure ...

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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 Jun 16, 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 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 are Flight Control Engineers?

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 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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Flight Control Engineer, and why are they important?

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 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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 13% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $168,811 per year, or $81.2 per hour.
Flight Control Law Engineer

Flight Control Law Engineer

Reliable Robotics

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$155K - $215K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

We're building safety-enhancing technology for aviation that will save lives. Automated aviation systems will enable a future where air transportation is safer, more convenient and fundamentally transformative to the way goods - and eventually people - move around the planet. We are a team of mission-driven engineers with experience across aerospace, robotics and self-driving cars working to make this future a reality.
As a Flight Controls Engineer at Reliable Robotics, you will be part of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Team. You will design, implement, integrate, and test flight control laws for all phases of operation including autotaxi, auto-takeoff, autoland, and automatic rollout. You integrate real-world hardware and C/C++ flight software as part of ongoing flight test programs, and perform simulation analysis and data reduction in our Python and C/C++ modeling & simulation environment.
Responsibilities
  • Establish autoflight and flight control system requirements
  • Interface with Pilots and Operations team to develop flight test plans, respond to squawks, and communicate design updates
  • Design and analyze flight control laws from conceptual design through implementation and certification
  • Develop simulation models to evaluate flight control system performance and stability
  • Implement control laws and algorithms in flight software
  • Test flight software in simulation, Monte Carlo, hardware-in-loop, and flight

Basic Success Criteria
  • BS in aerospace engineering, robotics, or equivalent field
  • 3+ years of hands on, professional experience developing and testing flight controls algorithms
  • Experience with flight dynamics simulation and model identification
  • Professional experience with developing C/C++ flight software and Python data reduction & analysis
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Criteria
  • MS in aerospace engineering, robotics, or similar advanced degree
  • Current pilot, instrument or commercial ratings
  • Experience with flight controls, autopilot, or flight management system certification

We are developing and building high-integrity, safety-critical systems for automated flight, and your role is critical to what we do at Reliable Robotics. With the support of the entire team, you will be making key contributions to the autoflight system that drive our core company mission forward.
This position is based at our facility in Mountain View, California.
Must be willing to travel up to 10% of the time.
This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. An offer of employment will be contingent upon the applicant's capacity to perform in compliance with U.S. export control laws.
All applicants are asked to provide documentation that legally establishes status as a U.S. person or non-U.S. person (and nationalities in the case of a non-U.S. person). Where the applicant is not a U.S. person, meaning not a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident, (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or not otherwise permitted to access the export-controlled technology without U.S. government authorization, the Company reserves the right not to apply for an export license for such applicants whose access to export-controlled technology or software source code requires authorization and may decline to proceed with the application process and any offer of employment on that basis.
At Reliable Robotics, our goal is to be a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, ancestry, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability or medical conditions, national origin, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment and promotion is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to work@reliable.co

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