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Flight Controls Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Electra

Engineering Manager- Control Laws

Manassas, VA · On-site

$153K - $185K/yr

Engineering Manager - Control Laws About Electra At Electra, we're building the EL9 - a nine ... This role requires deep expertise in flight controls and control theory as well as strong ...

New

Electra

Engineering Manager- Control Laws

Manassas, VA · On-site

$153K - $185K/yr

Engineering Manager - Control Laws About Electra At Electra, we're building the EL9 - a nine ... This role requires deep expertise in flight controls and control theory as well as strong ...

New

Scout Space

Senior Flight Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site +1

$127K - $168K/yr

As a Senior Flight Software Engineer , you will lead the development of Scout's flight software ... S. export controls. Scout Space Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race ...

Scout Space

Senior Flight Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

As a Senior Flight Software Engineer , you will lead the development of Scout's flight software ... S. export controls. Scout Space Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race ...

Scout Space

Senior Flight Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

As a Senior Flight Software Engineer , you will lead the development of Scout's flight software ... S. export controls. Scout Space Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race ...

SAIC

GNC Aerospace Engineer

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

... flight controls, or related system modeling * Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and at least one programming language (Python or C/C++) * The successful candidate shall have experience with guidance ...

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All JobsFlight Controls Engineer JobsFlight Controls Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Flight Controls Engineer information

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$20

$81

$104

How much do flight controls engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for flight controls engineer in Virginia is $81.53, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76.73 and $90.10 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of a Flight Controls Engineer?

Flight Controls Engineers spend their days developing, testing, and refining control systems that manage an aircraft’s stability and response. They often work closely with multidisciplinary teams including software developers, test pilots, and systems engineers to design algorithms and validate performance both in simulation and on real hardware. Regular tasks may include modeling flight dynamics, analyzing data from test flights, troubleshooting system anomalies, and preparing technical documentation. This role requires a high level of attention to detail and collaboration to ensure that flight control systems meet stringent safety and reliability standards.

What is a Flight Controls Engineer job?

A Flight Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing flight control systems that manage an aircraft's behavior in flight. This includes working on software, hardware, and control laws to ensure stability, performance, and safety. They collaborate with aerospace engineers, pilots, and regulatory agencies to meet industry standards. Their role often involves simulation, modeling, and real-world testing to refine control systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Flight Controls Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Flight Controls Engineer, you need a strong background in aerospace engineering, control systems theory, and experience with flight dynamics modeling, usually supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink, control law development tools, and industry certifications such as a Professional Engineer (PE) license or familiarity with DO-178C/DO-254 standards is highly valued. Excellent problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication skills help distinguish high performers in collaborative aviation environments. These skills are essential to ensure the safe, reliable design and integration of advanced flight control systems in modern aircraft.

What are popular job titles related to Flight Controls Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Flight Controls Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Flight Controls Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Controls Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Controls Engineer jobs in VA? For Flight Controls Engineer jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Flight Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Controls Engineer job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $169,584 per year, or $81.5 per hour.
Guidance, Navigation, Controls (GNC) Engineer

Guidance, Navigation, Controls (GNC) Engineer

Protingent

Crystal City, VA • On-site

$175K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Job description


Position Title: GNC Engineer
Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct-hire GNC Engineer opportunity.
Job Responsibilities:
  • Work on a team to develop, modify and tune guidance and control systems for fixed wing aircraft
  • Work on a team to develop, modify and tune navigation systems based on sensor fusion of 6-DOF IMU, magnetometer, GNSS, pressure and ranging sensors
  • Work on a team to develop and modify 6-DOF and Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation environments
  • Simulation, analysis, control, and testing on 6 degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) motion platform for development and validation of autonomous UAS
  • Work on a team to design and develop flight or mission-critical onboard software for unmanned systems
  • Aid development for unmanned aerospace includes guidance, navigation & control, mission sequencing, payload control, redundancy and contingency management, uplink and downlink packet encoding and decoding, converting between different serial protocols, hardware-in-the-loop simulation, ground-based GUIs, and aircraft subsystem control (i.e., payload, electrical systems)
  • Embedded Software development (C/C++, Python, shell scripts)
  • Writing/modifying software to adjust flight behaviors
  • Use development tools such as: JIRA, git, C/C++, CMake, Linux, MATLAB
  • Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary software team on large, multi-language projects
  • Participating in code reviews, Flight Testing, and Customer Presentations
  • Bench test, Hardware-in-the-loop, and field testing of UAS platforms
  • Local, interstate, and international travel to support field testing and customer demonstrations.
  • Expected travel is ~10-25%.
  • Collaborate with other engineering disciplines (Systems, Software, Mechanical, Electrical) in planning, design and development of systems to ensure software and hardware performance and compatibility
  • Design software architecture, interfaces, and gateways for communication with external Autonomy software services. Implement functionality using a model-based approach.
  • Software verification and validation including writing Test Cases and Test Procedures
  • Develop, implement, and document data and software application test plans to validate project deliverables meet quality standards
  • Oversee and support processes and procedures for existing data and reporting activities to support internal and external customer deliverables.
  • Examples of specific deliverables include but are not limited to: recurring reports and analyses; data validation and documentation
  • Interface and derive solutions in coordination with hardware design teams

Job Qualifications:
  • BS degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, Controls engineering or other relevant discipline, plus at minimum 5 years of experience in a professional environment developing MATLAB / Simulink control systems with auto code experience; or MS in Controls or Aerospace Engineering plus 2 years' experience. Embedded code experience preferred.
  • US Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance
  • Experience in developing physics based 6 DOF simulations, motion platforms.
  • Experience developing with: Gazebo or similar simulation tools, Matlab, MATLAB/Simulink, C, C++, Python
  • Experience developing scripts to run batch processes
  • Experience in data post processing from simulation or flight testing, report summary writing
  • Experience developing guidance and autonomy algorithms required; in denied environments preferred.

Preferred Job Qualifications:
  • Minimum two years of demonstrated, hands-on professional experience in at least one (ideally a combination) of the following areas:
  • Model-based design and/or test using the Simulink/Stateflow tool chain.
  • Software development in a relevant subject matter area: Aircraft Guidance Navigation & Control or other robotic system guidance, navigation and control; ground- or airborne mission systems; general aerospace flight control or cockpit. avionics systems; ground stations; payload control.
  • Development/operations of hardware-in-the-loop simulators, conducting testing and troubleshooting of HW/SW interfaces.
  • Familiarity with software configuration management tools, version control systems, defect tracking tools, and peer review required.

Job Details:
  • Job Type: Direct Hire
  • Salary Rate Range: $175,000-$200,000.
  • Location: Arlington, VA (Hybrid, 3 Days onsite).
  • Required US Citizenship - May be required to obtain and maintain a a U.S. security clearance at the appropriate level.

About Protingent: Protingent is a niche provider of top Engineering and IT talent to Software, Electronics, Medical Device, Telecom, and Aerospace companies nationwide. Protingent exists to make a positive impact and contribution to the lives of others as well as our community by providing relevant, rewarding, and exciting work opportunities for our candidates.
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