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Flight Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Elroy Air

Flight Sciences Engineer

Byron, CA · Hybrid

As a Flight Sciences Engineer at Elroy Air, you will own performance analysis, flight dynamics, and configuration trades across our hybrid-electric lift+cruise VTOL program. You will be the ...

Icarus

Flight Operations Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

The Flight Operations Engineer takes our aircraft from the hangar to the sky and back, and owns the technical depth behind every flight. You set up the test site, prepare the aircraft, run preflight ...

Icarus

Flight Operations Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

The Flight Operations Engineer takes our aircraft from the hangar to the sky and back, and owns the technical depth behind every flight. You set up the test site, prepare the aircraft, run preflight ...

Elroy Air

Flight Sciences Engineer

Byron, CA · On-site

As a Flight Sciences Engineer at Elroy Air, you will own performance analysis, flight dynamics, and configuration trades across our hybrid-electric lift+cruise VTOL program. You will be the ...

Icarus

Flight Operations Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

The Flight Operations Engineer takes our aircraft from the hangar to the sky and back, and owns the technical depth behind every flight. You set up the test site, prepare the aircraft, run preflight ...

Elroy Air

Flight Sciences Engineer

Byron, CA · Hybrid

$203K - $280K/yr

As a Flight Sciences Engineer at Elroy Air, you will own performance analysis, flight dynamics, and configuration trades across our hybrid-electric lift+cruise VTOL program. You will be the ...

SpaceX

Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Flight)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$115K - $160K/yr

PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR FLIGHT) The Propulsion Engineer role is responsible for taking hardware from concept through to flight (and re-flight) operations, and everything in between. Pursue all ...

SpaceX

Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Flight)

Hawthorne, CA

$115K - $160K/yr

PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR FLIGHT) The Propulsion Engineer role is responsible for taking hardware from concept through to flight (and re-flight) operations, and everything in between. Pursue all ...

Stratolaunch

Flight Sciences Engineer

Mojave, CA · Hybrid

As a Flight Science Engineer, you will contribute to a small hypersonic advanced design team, designing current and future Stratolaunch hypersonic vehicles. Your tasking may include conceptual design ...

Stratolaunch

Flight Sciences Engineer

Mojave, CA · On-site

As a Flight Science Engineer, you will contribute to a small hypersonic advanced design team, designing current and future Stratolaunch hypersonic vehicles. Your tasking may include conceptual design ...

SpaceX

Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Flight)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$115K - $160K/yr

PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR FLIGHT) The Propulsion Engineer role is responsible for taking hardware from concept through to flight (and re-flight) operations, and everything in between. Pursue all ...

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Flight Engineer information

See California salary details

$45.9K

$117K

$257.1K

How much do flight engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight engineer in California is $116,961.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,800.00 and $113,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a flight engineer?

To thrive as a Flight Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical and aeronautical engineering principles, typically supported by an associate's or bachelor's degree and relevant licensure or certification. Familiarity with aircraft systems, diagnostic tools, and flight management computers is essential for managing in-flight operations and troubleshooting issues. Strong attention to detail, communication, and problem-solving skills help Flight Engineers work effectively with pilots and maintenance crews. These skills are crucial for ensuring safe, efficient aircraft operation and prompt resolution of technical challenges during flights.

How does a flight engineer collaborate with pilots and maintenance crews during a typical flight operation?

A Flight Engineer works closely with pilots in the cockpit to monitor and manage all aircraft systems, such as engines, fuel, and hydraulics, ensuring optimal performance and safety throughout the flight. They regularly communicate with maintenance crews before and after flights to discuss technical issues, prepare aircraft for departures, and log any discrepancies for follow-up repairs. This collaborative environment requires strong teamwork, technical expertise, and clear communication to ensure safe and efficient flight operations.

What is the difference between Flight Engineer vs Aircraft Maintenance Engineer?

AspectFlight EngineerAircraft Maintenance Engineer
CredentialsFAA/AESA certifications, engineering degree often preferredAircraft Maintenance Engineer license, certifications in aircraft systems
Work EnvironmentOnboard aircraft during flights, in flight operationsMaintenance hangars, repair facilities, and on aircraft ground checks
Industry UsageCommercial and cargo airlines, military aviationAircraft maintenance companies, airline ground operations
Primary RoleMonitor aircraft systems during flight, assist pilotsInspect, repair, and maintain aircraft systems on the ground

While both roles involve aircraft systems, Flight Engineers focus on monitoring and supporting aircraft operations during flights, whereas Aircraft Maintenance Engineers handle ground-based inspections and repairs. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and employer expectations in aviation.

What is a flight engineer?

As a flight engineer, it is your job to monitor an airplane’s instrument systems during flight. Your main duties are to regulate cabin pressure, communicate with dispatchers, oversee fuel use, and assist the pilot. The career requires aviation experience as well as a flight engineer (FE) license from the Federal Aviation Administration. Most commercial airlines require additional qualifications such as a bachelor’s degree in aviation. You must receive regular training throughout your career to keep your license.

More about Flight Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Flight Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Engineer jobs in California? For Flight Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Flight Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Flight Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Flight Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Engineer jobs in CA? For Flight Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Flight Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 92% In-person, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,961 per year, or $56.2 per hour.

Flight Sciences Engineer

Elroy Air

Byron, CA • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

At Elroy Air, we build autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo drones to change the way the world moves goods. Transporting cargo by air is faster and more direct than by land or sea, but it has been prohibitively expensive for medium-size loads. We've set out to expand middle-mile logistics possibilities across multiple sectors, with our sights on a $420Bn global total addressable market for cargo logistics across defense, commercial and rapid response.
We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe that the defense, commercial, and rapid response communities need faster, better logistics solutions. We are seeing increasing demand as customers and prospects respond enthusiastically to the systems we've built. As we mature and deploy our offerings, we are looking for people like you: motivated collaborators, enthusiastic about our mission and ready to roll up their sleeves and make a big impact to improve how logistics works around the world. You will play an important role in establishing the Elroy Air Chaparral as the industry standard in this massive market.
We believe diverse perspectives at all levels of the organization are critical to innovation and employee development. This includes but is not limited to gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, age, ability, parenthood status, veteran status, educational background, citizenship status, or any combination of these characteristics.

As a Flight Sciences Engineer at Elroy Air, you will own performance analysis, flight dynamics, and configuration trades across our hybrid-electric lift+cruise VTOL program. You will be the analytical backbone of the vehicle team - reasoning across hover, transition, and cruise regimes, and working directly with propulsion, structures, and controls engineers to drive decisions from early concept through certification.

What you'll own:
  • Own vehicle performance modeling across hover, transition, and cruise: mission analysis, hybrid-electric energy management, climb optimization, and range/endurance trades
  • Build and maintain 6-DOF flight dynamics models for a lift+cruise configuration: aero database construction through the transition corridor, rotor-wing interaction modeling, stability derivatives, and trim analysis in hover, transition, and cruise
  • Contribute to vehicle design trades: feed flight sciences insight into OML shaping, drag reduction, control surface sizing, and flight controls architecture to close performance and handling qualities requirements
  • Derive external flight loads across the operational envelope and collaborate with the structures team to define limit and ultimate load cases, support fatigue analysis, and feed aeroelastic models
  • Support flight test planning, instrumentation requirements, and post-flight data reduction and analysis; correlate measured performance against analytical predictions
  • Build and improve simulation environments used for envelope expansion, handling qualities assessment, and controls development
  • Partner with propulsion and power teams to integrate hybrid-electric powertrain models into mission analysis; define power-required envelopes and binding constraints across the flight profile
  • Contribute to certification planning by authoring compliance analyses, performance substantiation reports, and supporting V&V documentation
Our Ideal Candidate
  • B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field
  • 5+ years of meaningful hands-on experience in flight sciences, vehicle performance, or flight dynamics
  • Proficiency in vehicle performance modeling: energy-based methods, point-mass and full 6-DOF simulation, power-required/available analysis
  • Experience building or working with aerodynamic databases and stability derivative sets for flight simulation or loads analysis
  • Familiarity with flight test methods: test card development, FTI requirements, data reduction, and prediction-to-flight correlation
  • Strong programming skills in Python and/or MATLAB for analysis, post-processing, and tool development
  • Solid understanding of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, or hybrid lift+cruise vehicle aeromechanics
  • Working proficiency with aerodynamic analysis tools across fidelity levels - from low-order methods (panel codes, blade element, XFOIL) through mid-fidelity (RANS CFD): sufficient to set up runs, interpret results, and interface with dedicated CFD engineers
  • Clear technical communication skills: able to distill complex analysis into concise summaries for engineering and program leadership
Bonus Points For:
  • Direct experience with eVTOL, tiltrotor, or lift+cruise configurations - including transition corridor analysis, transition schedule definition, and rotor-wing aerodynamic interaction
  • Background in hybrid-electric propulsion performance modeling: energy management strategy, battery sizing trades, and BSFC/TSFC integration into mission analysis
  • Experience designing internal flows, including ducting, intakes, and cooling flows
  • Rotor and/or propeller design experience
  • Handling qualities assessment experience using ADS-33 or FAA/EASA equivalents
  • Exposure to flight simulation environments: JSBSim, Simulink/FlightGear, or equivalent
  • Experience with certification under FAA Part 23, Part 27, or EASA SC-VTOL frameworks
  • Background in aeroelastics or structural loads as they relate to flight envelope definition
What We Offer:
  • Competitive salary
  • Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced aerospace company
  • Comprehensive medical benefits
  • 401(k) with company contribution + Roth IRA
  • Free daily lunch provided onsite
  • Flexible time-off policy
  • 3 months of paid parental leave
  • Employee assistance program with 24/7 support
  • High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
  • Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement
  • You'll work with a motivated, kind, and highly skilled team
  • You'll help shape and define our company culture and values
  • You'll help build and scale a new category of aerospace / logistics technology
$203,000 - $280,000 a year

We encourage you to apply even if you aren't an exact match for our open role as many of our team members come from nontraditional backgrounds.
Elroy Air is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.
We are committed to an inclusive, harassment-free workplace and we gladly provide reasonable accommodations to support our team.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder). All employees will be screened through E-Verify.

Elroy Air does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters that we do not have a written agreement with and all employment activities are managed through our internal team. We reserve the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes received without being responsible for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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