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Flight Engineer Jobs in Irvine, CA (NOW HIRING)

Front Door Defense

Flight Software Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$191 - $253/hr

Flight Software Engineer Develop and validate embedded flight software for Anduril UAVs, from drivers to flight control Location: Costa Mesa, California Compensation: $191,000 - 253,000 USD / year ...

Slope

Flight Test Engineer

San Clemente, CA · On-site

$112 - $149/hr

As a Flight Test Engineer you will partner with the Ghost engineering to be responsible for test planning, execution, reporting, and evaluating the system under test (software and/or hardware)

ANDURIL INDUSTRIES

Flight Software Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$191K - $253K/yr

Our engineers move quickly from simulation to flight and thrive on solving real-world problems that matter. ABOUT THE ROLE As a Flight Software Engineer, you will be responsible for developing the ...

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Flight Engineer information

See Irvine, CA salary details

$49.9K

$127.2K

$279.6K

How much do flight engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight engineer in Irvine, CA is $127,210.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,000.00 and $123,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 do flight engineers do?

Flight engineers are responsible for monitoring and operating aircraft systems during flights, including engines, hydraulics, and electrical systems. They assist pilots with technical issues, perform pre-flight checks, and ensure safety protocols are followed, often working in the cockpit or engineering station. Certification and technical knowledge are essential for this role.
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Flight Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Engineer job openings in Irvine, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $127,210 per year, or $61.2 per hour.

Flight Sciences Engineer

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 76,812 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Tactical Recon and Strike team at Anduril develops aerial small drones (Group 1-3) and all equipment to test, deploy and operate. The team is responsible for taking products like Ghost, Anvil, Bolt and Altius from paper sketches to operational systems. We work in close coordination with specialist teams to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers. We are looking for software engineers, hardware engineers, roboticists, and front-end mobile developers who are excited about creating a powerful robotics platform that can be tasked and viewed in real-time through a variety of interfaces.

The guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) team within TRS performs implementation, analysis, test, and validation for GNC software solutions supporting our autonomous drone fleet. Applications include attitude and position control, waypoint and terminal guidance engagements, and navigating contested environments including communication and GPS denied environments.

ABOUT THE JOB

This role will be responsible for guidance and control law development and validation, hardware and software in-the-loop test and analysis, and cutting edge navigation solutions supporting the entire range of drones within TRS.

What You'll Do

    • Aerodynamic Design & Analysis:
      • Aerodynamic design of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and hybrid VTOL platforms at conceptual, preliminary, and detail design maturities
      • aerodynamic analysis of unmanned air vehicles, using both low and high order methods, including analysis tool development and improvement as needed
      • Conduct detailed analysis to predict and enhance aero performance.
      • Utilize Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools and low-order methods for performance evaluation.
      • Develop and maintain in-house suite of aerodynamic analysis tools.
      • Evaluate impacts of configuration changes on performance of the aircraft.
    • Flight Simulation Development:
      • Design, implement, and maintain high-fidelity flight simulation models.
      • Utilize simulation to evaluate aircraft performance and reliability.
      • Validate simulation accuracy against wind tunnel and flight test results
    • Testing:
      • Work with Flight Test personnel to plan and execute tests to evaluate aircraft performance
      • Plan and coordinate wind tunnel testing to gather aerodynamic data
      • Analyze test data to identify performance trends and areas for improvement.
      • Utilize flight test data to identify system bugs and failures
      • Prepare technical reports and briefings to communicate findings with stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

    • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
    • 4+ years applicable professional experience with airborne platforms
    • 4+ years of experience in aerodynamic design and analysis, flight simulation, and flight testing
    • Hands-on experience with CFD tools, MATLAB/Simulink, or equivalent simulation platforms
    • 4+ years experience in programming and data analysis skills (MATLAB, C++, etc.)
    • Strong understanding of aerodynamics and flight dynamics, stability, and control
    • A passion for defending the Unites States of America and its allies
    • US person status is required as this position requires access to export controlled information

Preferred Qualifications

    • PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
    • Experience with flight control design and analysis for fixed and rotary wing aircraft or missile systems
    • C/C++ Expertise
    • Experience with Simulink Embedded Coder

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.

What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

Social media

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