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Flight Performance Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

Specter Aerospace

GNC Engineer Level 1-3

Peabody, MA · On-site

... flight performance Develop software-/hardware-in-the-loop (SWIL/HWIL) capabilities to aid in design, analysis, and verification of high-speed systems Support trajectory optimization and analysis ...

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Enigma Aerospace

Aeronautical Test Engineer

Burlington, MA · On-site +1

Plan and execute performance and GNC/ flight control laws optimization for fixed-wing aircraft. * Plan and implement engineering and flight test plans and procedures for component, ground, taxi, and ...

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Draper

Flight Software Engineer, Distinguished

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$100K - $275K/yr

Draper is looking for a highly skilled Flight Software Engineer, Distinguished to join the Mission ... The engineer develops high performance solutions for resource constrained targets. They design and ...

Draper

Flight Software Engineer, Distinguished

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$100K - $275K/yr

Draper is looking for a highly skilled Flight Software Engineer, Distinguished to join the Mission ... The engineer develops high performance solutions for resource constrained targets. They design and ...

Merlin Labs

Mechanical Engineer

Boston, MA

... performance industries. You are comfortable owning projects from concept through production and ... Support prototype builds, integration activities, ground testing, and flight test operations

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Merlin Labs

Mechanical Engineer

Boston, MA

... performance industries. You are comfortable owning projects from concept through production and ... Support prototype builds, integration activities, ground testing, and flight test operations

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All JobsFlight Performance Engineer JobsFlight Performance Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

Flight Performance Engineer information

See Massachusetts salary details

$12

$65

$107

How much do flight performance engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for flight performance engineer in Massachusetts is $65.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53.80 and $74.28 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior flight performance engineers or aerospace engineers with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and specialized skills can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially in the aerospace industry. High compensation often reflects leadership roles, complex project responsibilities, or working for major aerospace companies with demanding schedules and technical expertise.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior aerospace or flight performance engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills, and often working in the aerospace or defense industries can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses and stock options. Such high compensation typically requires specialized expertise, leadership roles, or working for major corporations in high-demand sectors.

Is there a demand for Flight Engineers?

The demand for Flight Engineers has decreased significantly with advancements in aircraft automation and modern aircraft design, leading to fewer openings in the field. However, opportunities may still exist in specialized roles, older aircraft maintenance, or in regions with limited automation, requiring relevant certifications and experience. Overall, the role is becoming less common in the aviation industry.

What are Flight Performance Engineers?

Flight Performance Engineers are specialized professionals responsible for analyzing and optimizing the performance of aircraft during all phases of flight. They assess factors such as fuel efficiency, payload, climb rates, and range to ensure aircraft operate safely and efficiently. Their work involves using advanced software models, interpreting flight test data, and collaborating with design and operations teams to improve aircraft performance and meet regulatory standards.

What is the difference between Flight Performance Engineer vs Flight Test Engineer?

AspectFlight Performance EngineerFlight Test Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in aerospace, mechanical, or related engineering; often certifications in aeronauticsBachelor's in aerospace, mechanical, or related engineering; certifications in testing or aviation
Work EnvironmentAircraft performance analysis, in-flight data monitoring, and optimizationDesign, plan, and execute flight tests, analyze test data
Employer & Industry UsageAirlines, aircraft manufacturers, aerospace companiesAircraft manufacturers, aerospace testing facilities, defense contractors

While both roles involve aircraft and aeronautics, Flight Performance Engineers focus on analyzing and optimizing aircraft performance during flights, whereas Flight Test Engineers design and conduct flight tests to validate aircraft systems. Both roles require similar technical backgrounds but differ in daily tasks and objectives.

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

To thrive as a Flight Performance Engineer, you need a strong background in aerospace engineering, physics, and mathematics, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency in simulation software (such as MATLAB, Simulink, or flight performance analysis tools) and knowledge of regulatory standards are essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set exceptional candidates apart in this field. These skills are critical for ensuring accurate performance calculations, regulatory compliance, and effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to guarantee safe and efficient aircraft operations.

What are some common challenges faced by Flight Performance Engineers when collaborating with cross-functional teams?

Flight Performance Engineers frequently work with teams from avionics, propulsion, aerodynamics, and operations. A common challenge is translating complex performance data into actionable insights that are understandable to colleagues from different technical backgrounds. Additionally, aligning performance requirements with design and regulatory constraints often requires strong communication and negotiation skills. Successful Flight Performance Engineers proactively foster open dialogue and use data visualization or simulation tools to bridge knowledge gaps and ensure all stakeholders are aligned on project goals.

What do aircraft performance engineers do?

Aircraft performance engineers analyze and optimize the performance of aircraft, including fuel efficiency, speed, and handling characteristics. They use flight data, simulations, and engineering tools to ensure aircraft meet safety and efficiency standards, often working closely with design teams and pilots. Strong analytical skills and knowledge of aerodynamics and aircraft systems are essential for this role.
What are popular job titles related to Flight Performance Engineer jobs in Massachusetts? For Flight Performance Engineer jobs in Massachusetts, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Flight Performance Engineer jobs in Massachusetts look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Performance Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are:
What cities in Massachusetts are hiring for Flight Performance Engineer jobs? Cities in Massachusetts with the most Flight Performance Engineer job openings:
Flight Performance Engineer jobs near you
Senior Performance Engineer

Senior Performance Engineer

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • On-site

Other

Posted 6 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Lead the authoring and iteration of automated performance scripts and CI/CD integrations, including instrumentation and telemetry strategies.

  • Collaborate with developers, analysts, and Technical Services to integrate performance requirements into architecture, establish SLOs, and balance feature velocity with reliability.

  • Design workload models, perform deep-dive analysis using profiling tools, and enable self-service performance testing capabilities for developers.

Boston College rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 9 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

21st of 544 rated colleges and universities

Job description

The Senior Performance Engineer spearheads the strategy for application scalability, capacity planning, and resilience. They will lead end-to-end performance initiatives, working across functional boundaries to ensure our systems are robust, responsive, and reliable. From developing sophisticated simulation scripts to performing deep-dive root cause analysis on production-level bottlenecks, they will be the primary advocate for a seamless user experience.

Primary Responsibilities:
- Performance Strategy & Frameworks: Lead the authoring and iteration of automated performance scripts and CI/CD integrations. Will own the instrumentation and telemetry strategy to ensure high-fidelity data capture.
- Shift-Left Engineering: Partner with developers and analysts from day one of the SDLC. Ensure performance requirements aren't an afterthought but are documented and baked into the initial architecture.
- Proactive Monitoring & SRE Alignment: Anticipate and mitigate issues before they impact the user. Will leverage APM tools and profilers to maintain a pulse on system health and drive the resolution of complex concurrency and scalability bottlenecks.

Key Activities
- SRE Collaboration: Partner with Technical Services to establish SLOs and Error Budgets, balancing the need for rapid feature velocity with rock-solid system reliability.
- Self-Service Enablement: Design and build continuous performance testing capabilities that allow developers to execute tests in a self-service capacity within their own pipelines.
- Workload Modeling: Construct sophisticated workload models and simulations that accurately mimic real-world traffic to establish scalability benchmarks.
- Architectural Scrutiny: Participate in design reviews to identify performance risks in system integrations, database schemas, and application logic.
- Mentorship & Code Review: Lead code reviews for performance scripts and artifacts, ensuring the team adheres to industry best practices and maintains high-quality test suites.
- Deep-Dive Analysis: Utilize advanced profiling tools (e.g., Oracle Flight Recorder, JProfiler) to identify memory leaks, thread contention, and I/O bottlenecks.

Full-Time Equivalent Hiring Range: 110,150 to 137,700; salary commensurate with relevant experience.

Work Model: Hybrid. 3 days in-person required at the discretion of management.

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