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Flight Systems Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Avionics Systems Engineer III

Seattle, WA · On-site

$130K - $182K/yr

... testing and flight certification. These responsibilities require broad application of systems engineering principles with a strong emphasis on electronics hardware design, packaging, and ...

Flight Software Engineer

Kent, WA · On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

You'll be responsible for the payload flight software-written in Rust-spanning attitude and ... Strong systems programming skills in Rust, C, or C++, with willingness to work primarily in Rust

Avionics Systems Engineer III

Seattle, WA · On-site

$130K - $182K/yr

... testing and flight certification. These responsibilities require broad application of systems engineering principles with a strong emphasis on electronics hardware design, packaging, and ...

Systems Engineer

Bothell, WA · On-site

$55 - $72/hr

Ascent Aerospace - Inspiring the next generation of flight! Ascent Aerospace is a world-renowned ... Summary of Position The Systems Engineer is responsible for the coordination of design requirements ...

Showing results 21-40

Flight Systems Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$49.5K

$157.9K

$258.9K

How much do flight systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight systems engineer in Seattle, WA is $157,931.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $133,700.00 and $179,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a flight systems engineer do?

A Flight Systems Engineer is responsible for designing, testing, and maintaining the systems that ensure the safe and efficient operation of aircraft or spacecraft. This includes avionics, propulsion, navigation, communication, and control systems. They work closely with other engineers and teams to integrate various subsystems, troubleshoot issues, and ensure all systems meet safety and regulatory standards. Flight Systems Engineers are crucial in both the development and operation phases, ensuring that vehicles perform reliably throughout their lifecycle.

What are the typical challenges faced by a flight systems engineer when integrating new avionics technology into existing aircraft?

Flight Systems Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring compatibility between new avionics systems and legacy aircraft components, adhering to rigorous safety and certification standards, and managing limited documentation for older systems. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including software developers, test engineers, and regulatory authorities—is essential to address these obstacles effectively. Success in this area requires strong problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, and clear communication across departments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a flight systems engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Flight Systems Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace engineering, systems analysis, and flight dynamics, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like MATLAB, Simulink, and flight simulation software, as well as knowledge of regulatory standards such as DO-178C, is essential. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you collaborate effectively and address complex technical challenges. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring the safety, reliability, and performance of flight systems in demanding aerospace environments.

Platform Engineer, Flight Software (Starlink)

Redmond, WA • On-site

SpaceX
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

$145K - $200K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago


SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 152 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
PLATFORM ENGINEER, FLIGHT SOFTWARE (STARLINK)
As an infrastructure engineer on the Starlink flight software team, you will be responsible for the software that enables rapid iteration and deployment of both ground and satellite software. You will look for slowdowns in developer iteration, inefficiencies in the build system, and unnecessary interface complexity, and fix them. You will engage closely with other Starlink engineers to identify the biggest challenges they are facing and resolve them. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the software that you write, from conception to test to maintenance. Your relentless commitment to streamlining the flight software ecosystem will be critical to the team's ability to rapidly deliver high quality software.
Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - rather we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving problems and want to make an impact on an inspiring mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Maintain flight code generation tooling for flight software and GNC engineers
  • Maintain core flight software features that are shared across various satellite products
  • Work closely with flight software developers to understand slow / error prone aspects of embedded software development and fix them
  • Invent tools and processes that enable fast, accurate, and easy-to-use development and operational systems
  • Engage ground software teams to understand where flight systems should be changed to simplify constellation operations

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline OR 2+ years of experience in software development
  • Development experience in C/C++, Python, or other similar programming languages

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Knowledge of Bazel, C++, Python, Bash
  • Experience identifying and improving performance bottlenecks, both in build systems and in embedded environments
  • Experience designing aesthetic and easy-to-use user interfaces targeted at software engineers
  • Experience designing fault tolerant, distributed, or real-time embedded systems
  • Experience with version control, continuous integration, and continuous delivery systems
  • Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements
  • Ability to communicate effectively across teams in a solution-oriented manner
  • Ability to work independently or in a team

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Willing to work extended hours and weekends when needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 1: $125,000.00 - $165,000.00
Level 2: $145,000.00 - $200,000.00
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
    Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to

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About SpaceX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US