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Flight Simulator Engineer Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

... flight test efforts including Hardware-In-The-Loop (HWIL) activities Support program reviews and ... simulations. The M&S Engineer must be proficient in C++ and MATLAB. The candidate must have good ...

$98K - $135K/yr

The candidate will be responsible for pre-flight performance prediction simulation runs as well as ... The candidate GNC Engineer should have experience with basic flight mechanics and equations of ...

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Flight Simulator Engineer information

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$43.3K

$110.4K

$242.7K

How much do flight simulator engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight simulator engineer in Texas is $110,413.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,500.00 and $107,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a typical day look like for a Flight Simulator Engineer?

A typical day for a Flight Simulator Engineer involves developing, testing, and maintaining advanced simulation software and hardware to ensure realistic and reliable flight training experiences. You’ll often collaborate with other engineers, pilots, and instructors to address technical issues, implement software updates, and fine-tune system performance. Routine tasks may include troubleshooting simulator malfunctions, integrating new aircraft models, and documenting system changes for compliance and future reference. The work environment is dynamic and multidisciplinary, offering the chance to use both technical expertise and teamwork to support critical training operations.

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

To thrive as a Flight Simulator Engineer, you need a strong background in computer engineering, software development, systems integration, and a relevant degree in engineering or computer science. Familiarity with simulation platforms (such as X-Plane, FlightGear, or CAE platforms), programming languages (like C++ or Python), and knowledge of avionics systems are highly valuable, along with certifications such as CompTIA or manufacturer-specific quals. Strong troubleshooting abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are critical soft skills for collaborating with pilots, engineers, and training staff. These skills and qualities are essential for ensuring simulators accurately replicate flight conditions, support pilot training, and meet strict safety and regulatory standards.

What is a Flight Simulator Engineer job?

A Flight Simulator Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting flight simulation systems used for pilot training and aircraft testing. They work with hardware and software to ensure the simulator accurately replicates real-world flight conditions. Their role involves programming, integrating avionics systems, and performing regular maintenance to ensure reliability. These engineers collaborate with pilots, instructors, and aeronautical engineers to enhance training effectiveness.

What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Simulator Engineer jobs in Texas? The most popular types of Flight Simulator Engineer jobs in Texas are:
What job categories do people searching Flight Simulator Engineer jobs in Texas look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Simulator Engineer jobs in Texas are:
What cities in Texas are hiring for Flight Simulator Engineer jobs? Cities in Texas with the most Flight Simulator Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Flight Simulator Engineer job openings in Texas as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,413 per year, or $53.1 per hour.
Staff Engineer, Flight Controls - X-BAT (R4813)

Staff Engineer, Flight Controls - X-BAT (R4813)

Shield AI

Dallas, TX • On-site

$180K - $280K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
In this role, you will contribute to the flight control system for XBAT, with responsibility for delivering stable, predictable, and operationally robust performance across all phases of flight, including vertical takeoff, hover, transition out-bound, wing-borne flight, transition in-bound, and precision recovery.
What you'll do:
  • Design and implement flight control laws and supporting logic across multiple flight regimes.
  • Build and mature high-fidelity 6DOF simulation environments used for control development and ensure accurate pre-flight performance predictions
  • Execute verification activities, including linear analysis, Monte Carlo campaigns, disturbance/sensitivity/degraded operation testing, and HIL validation
  • Diagnose and resolve simulation-to-test mismatches, including unidentified dynamics and modeling gaps
  • Support flight test operations and contribute to rapid iteration between flights
  • Work closely with propulsion, aero, actuation, sensors, state estimation, and autonomy teams to ensure accurate integrated system performance in the 6DOF simulation environment.
  • Mentor, teach, and up-skill younger engineers.
  • Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Required qualifications:
  • 6+ years of experience in flight controls / GNC on real flight vehicles, with demonstrated contributions from design through test.
  • Experience performing one or more of the following technical flight control assignments:
    • Vehicle Modeling and Simulation:
      • Demonstrated experience implementing time-accurate mathematical models of the vehicle aerodynamics, mass properties, fuel system, propulsion system, sensors, actuators into a 6DOF simulation environment.
    • Control Law Design:
      • Demonstrated experience designing inner and outer loop control laws for fixed-wing aircraft using classical or modern control techniques.
    • Control Allocation:
      • Demonstrated experience designing control allocation algorithms for over-actuated systems handling actuator saturation, rate limits, failures and degradation.
    • Guidance and Autonomy Integration:
      • Demonstrated experience designing and testing real-time trajectory generation algorithms.
    • Verification and Validation:
      • Demonstrated experience executing linear, nonlinear, and Monte Carlo Analyses in a 6DOF simulation environment.
      • Demonstrated experience executing sensitivity studies, worst-case disturbance analysis, and/or failure detection and accommodation studies validating control robustness against requirements.
      • Demonstrated experience characterizing aircraft flying qualities against tailored MIL-HDBK-516 Section 6 requirements within a high-fidelity 6DOF Simulation framework.
      • Demonstrated experience in generating flight control and simulation data artifacts for Airworthiness Certification (Simulation Description Document, Flying Qualities Report).
    • Flight Test Support:
      • Demonstrated experience in test planning, envelope expansion strategy, and test point selection.
    • Post-Flight Analysis:
      • Demonstrated experience analyzing flight data, comparing predicted vs actual behavior, performing system identification and model refinement tasks, and implementing control design or simulation model updates.
  • Strong background in aircraft flight dynamics and 6DOF simulation
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to mentor and up-skill junior engineers.
  • Proficiency in C++, MATLAB/Simulink, and/or Python.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Preferred qualifications:
  • Autonomous systems or missile/UAV GNC background
  • Familiarity with:
    • Sensor and air data systems
    • CI/CD pipelines and modern DevSecOps practices
  • Experience integrating NPSS propulsion models (transient and steady state) into a 6DOF simulation environment.
  • Experience with HIL or integrated simulation/test environments and Linux-based development workflows (Git, etc.)
  • Experience operating in rapid development environments with tight iteration loops between simulation and test

$180,000 - $280,000 a year
#LI-SM1
#LD
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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.