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Flight Controls Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

idexcel

Flight Controls systems engineer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

Automatic Flight Controls systems engineer supporting the Epic/Apex program teams. Preferred experience with Epic. Team responsibilities include Autopilot, Yaw Damper, Flight Director, Thrust ...

Merlin Labs

Staff Engineer, Core Flight Controls

OR · On-site +1

$200K - $265K/yr

You are an experienced flight controls engineer passionate about autonomous flight who wants to contribute to making airplanes fly themselves. You are familiar with fixed wing aircraft and the ...

Merlin Labs

Staff Engineer, Core Flight Controls

OR · Remote

$200K - $265K/yr

You are an experienced flight controls engineer passionate about autonomous flight who wants to contribute to making airplanes fly themselves. You are familiar with fixed wing aircraft and the ...

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How much do flight controls engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for flight controls engineer in the United States is $82.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77.40 and $90.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a flight controls engineer?

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

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.

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Flight Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Controls Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $171,051 per year, or $82.2 per hour.

Flight Controls / Aerodynamics / Handling Qualities Engineer

Las Vegas, NV • On-site

JT4, LLC
Engineering Professional Services • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about JT4, LLCexternal

$135K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

JT4, LLC provides engineering and technical support to multiple western test ranges for the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and Navy under the Joint Range Technical Services Contract, better known as J-Tech II. JT4 develops and maintains realistic, integrated test and training environments and prepares our nation's war-fighting aircraft, weapons systems, and aircrews for today's missions and tomorrow's global challenges.
JOB SUMMARY - ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/DUTIES
The Flight Controls / Aerodynamics / Handling Qualities Engineer is responsible for supporting airworthiness, flight controls integration, aerodynamic assessment, handling qualities evaluation, and T2 engineering activities across multiple airborne platforms including rotary-wing, fixed-wing, fighter, and specialized mission aircraft. This position provides independent technical assessment, peer review, integration-level engineering support, and airworthiness risk evaluation for aircraft modifications, external stores, instrumentation installations, Outer Mold Line (OML) changes, control-system updates, and contractor-developed engineering packages.
Employee will be responsible for the following functions/duties:
  • Perform effectively both independently and as part of a multi-disciplined engineering team in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
  • Provide technical review and integration support for flight controls, aerodynamics, stability and control, and handling qualities across multiple aircraft platforms.
  • Assess stability and control impacts associated with T2 modifications, including external stores, antennas, instrumentation, mission equipment, fairings, apertures, and OML changes.
  • Evaluate aerodynamic interference, flow-field effects, control-surface impacts, trim changes, performance effects, and potential impacts to aircraft flying qualities and mission effectiveness.
  • Develop, review, or validate aerodynamic loads and pressure distributions used by structures engineers to substantiate modified aircraft configurations.
  • Review contractor-developed aerodynamic analyses, control-law assessments, simulation results, wind-tunnel data, flight-test data, and technical substantiation packages for airworthiness adequacy.
  • Evaluate flight-control laws, gain schedules, control margins, actuator authority, redundancy, failure modes, and potential common-mode or adverse coupling effects.
  • Support definition of flight-envelope limitations, operating restrictions, test build-up approaches, and risk mitigations for modified aircraft configurations.
  • Develop or review aerodynamic models, six-degree-of-freedom simulation inputs, configuration databases, engineering assumptions, and integration documentation supporting T2 modifications.
  • Support airworthiness assessments, technical review boards, flight release discussions, systems safety activities, and incremental flight-test authorization decisions.
  • Interface extensively with test pilots, flight-test engineers, instrumentation engineers, Government Chief Engineers, Technical Authorities (TA), and platform contractors.
  • Coordinate integration impacts across structures, propulsion, electrical/avionics, systems safety, systems engineering, configuration management, and sustainment engineering disciplines.
  • Prepare technical assessment memorandums, flight-envelope recommendations, risk summaries, engineering positions, and customer briefings.
  • Provide engineering judgment, mentorship, and technical leadership while operating within defined Government airworthiness and contractual boundaries.

REQUIREMENTS - EDUCATION, TECHNICAL, AND WORK EXPERIENCE
A Master of Science in engineering from an accredited academic institution and 16 years of related engineering experience, or an accredited doctorate degree in engineering and a minimum of 12 years of related engineering experience are required for this position.
In addition, an Engineer VI must possess the following qualifications:
  • A well-established, substantial, professional reputation in one or more of the principal technical disciplines of the company
  • Demonstrated ability to direct senior technical personnel in project assignments involving research, development, integration, and sustainment of complex systems or processes
  • Superior communications skills, both verbal and written, in day-to-day project activities as well as in briefing customers and in writing reports and proposals
  • Working knowledge of computer systems and computer-based engineering tools

SALARY
The expected salary range for this position is $135,000.00 to $250,000.00 annually.
Note: The salary range offered for this position is a good faith description of the expected salary range this role will pay. JT4 considers factors such as (but not limited to) responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market/business considerations when extending an offer.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
Each employee must read, understand, and implement the general and specific operational, safety, quality, and environmental requirements of all plans, procedures, and policies pertaining to their job.
WORKING CONDITIONS
This position involves work typical of a multidisciplinary aircraft system engineering and integration environment supporting Government airworthiness activities. The majority of work is performed in an engineering office using technical data packages, engineering analyses, CAD drawings, digital engineering tools, systems models, and Government technical data repositories. Routine travel to remote Company or Government location may be required in support of aircraft modifications, on flight lines, at contractor locations, developmental test organizations, in support of technical interchange meetings and design reviews. Occasional aircraft inspections, integration activities, laboratory testing, and flight test support may be required.
DISCLAIMER
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by personnel assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of persons so classified.
Tasking is in support of a Federal Government Contract that requires U.S. citizenship. Some jobs may require a candidate to be eligible for a government security clearance, state-issued driver's license, or other licenses/certifications, and the inability to obtain and maintain the required clearance, license, or certification may affect an employee's ability to maintain employment.
SCC:JENG17;JCORP12
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About JT4

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

JT4 provides engineering and technical support to multiple western test ranges for the U.S. Air Force and Navy under the Joint Range Technical Services Contract, better known as J-Tech II. We develop and maintain realistic integrated test and training environments, and prepare our nation's war-fighting aircraft, weapons systems, and aircrews for today's missions and tomorrow's global challenges.

Industry

Engineering professional services

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Las Vegas, NV, US

Year founded

2001

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