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Flight Test Engineer Intern Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Flight Test Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$112K - $149K/yr

As a flight test engineer, under minimal supervision, you will be responsible for test planning, execution, reporting, and evaluating the system under test (software and/or hardware). * Test duties ...

Flight Test Engineer Location: Arnold AFB - Tullahoma, TH This is a pipeline requisition intended to identify and engage qualified candidates for anticipated future openings. Submission of an ...

Flight Test Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$112K - $149K/yr

As a flight test engineer, under minimal supervision, you will be responsible for test planning, execution, reporting, and evaluating the system under test (software and/or hardware). * Test duties ...

Flight Test Engineering Lead

Marina, CA · On-site

$188K - $242K/yr

Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Flight Test Engineer Lead to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to lead a highly talented team of flight test ...

Overview Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Flight Test Engineer Lead to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to lead a highly talented team of flight test ...

Flight Test Engineering Lead

Marina, CA · On-site

$188K - $242K/yr

Overview Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Flight Test Engineer Lead to join our flight test team. This role presents a unique opportunity to lead a highly talented team of flight test ...

As a Senior Flight Test Engineer you will lead comprehensive flight test campaigns and integrate automated testing infrastructure into our flight test program. In this role, you will develop a deep ...

Salary Range: $84,137 - $90,000 Airborne Electronic Warfare (AEW) Flight Test Engineer supporting the F/A-18 & EA-18G Integrated Product Team (IPT) the incumbent will be required to support Flight ...

Salary Range: $84,137 - $90,000 Airborne Electronic Warfare (AEW) Flight Test Engineer supporting the F/A-18 & EA-18G Integrated Product Team (IPT) the incumbent will be required to support Flight ...

Salary Range: $84,137 - $90,000 Airborne Electronic Warfare (AEW) Flight Test Engineer supporting the F/A-18 & EA-18G Integrated Product Team (IPT) the incumbent will be required to support Flight ...

Showing results 21-40

Flight Test Engineer Intern information

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

To thrive as a Flight Test Engineer Intern, you need a solid understanding of aerospace engineering fundamentals, data analysis, and avionics, typically supported by progress toward a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with aircraft instrumentation, MATLAB, LabVIEW, and data acquisition systems is often required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication distinguish successful interns in this field. These skills are vital for ensuring accurate test results, maintaining safety standards, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams during complex flight test operations.

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

AspectFlight Test Engineer InternFlight Test Engineer
Required CredentialsEnrolled in or recent graduate of aerospace or related engineering programBachelor's or master's degree in aerospace engineering or related field, with relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentInternship setting, often supervised, in aerospace testing facilities or on test flightsFull-time professional role, involved in planning, executing, and analyzing flight tests
Employer & Industry UsageInternships offered by aerospace companies, government agencies, or defense contractorsFull-time positions in aerospace, defense, or aviation industries

The main difference between a Flight Test Engineer Intern and a Flight Test Engineer is experience level and responsibility. Interns are typically students or recent graduates gaining hands-on experience, while engineers are full-time professionals responsible for planning and executing flight tests. Internships serve as a stepping stone toward a career as a Flight Test Engineer.

What types of projects and hands-on experiences can I expect as a flight test engineer intern?

As a Flight Test Engineer Intern, you’ll typically work on a mix of pre-flight preparations, data collection during test flights, and post-flight analysis. You may assist with instrumentation setup, monitor real-time data, and help troubleshoot technical issues alongside experienced engineers and pilots. Interns often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including aerodynamics, avionics, and safety specialists, giving you an excellent opportunity to understand the broader context of flight testing. These experiences are invaluable for building foundational skills, gaining insight into industry-standard procedures, and networking for future career opportunities.

What does a flight test engineer intern do?

A Flight Test Engineer Intern assists in planning, executing, and analyzing flight tests for aircraft or aerospace systems. Their responsibilities often include preparing test plans, monitoring test flights, collecting data, and supporting senior engineers in evaluating aircraft performance and safety. Interns gain hands-on experience with test procedures, instrumentation, and regulatory compliance, contributing to the development and certification of new aviation products.
What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Test Engineer Intern jobs in California? For Flight Test Engineer Intern jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Flight Test Engineer Intern jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Test Engineer Intern jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Flight Test Engineer Intern jobs? Cities in California with the most Flight Test Engineer Intern job openings:
Infographic showing various Flight Test Engineer Intern job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% Internship, 85% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Flight Test Engineer

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

$112K - $149K/yr

Other

Re-posted 17 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 75,035 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
The Test and Evaluation team at Anduril plays a crucial role in our mission, ensuring that every product meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. Our team conducts full system level development testing, new production acceptance testing, software validation testing and much more. This position is looking for a highly motivated flight test engineer with emphasis in software/hardware capability development and evaluation for the Altius UAS platform. Altius is a Group 2/3 autonomous vehicle specializing in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. You will be responsible for the evaluation of the software and hardware capabilities for operational suitability as well as Altius's integration into the full suite of Anduril systems to complete complex operations.
What you'll do
  • As a flight test engineer, under minimal supervision, you will be responsible for test planning, execution, reporting, and evaluating the system under test (software and/or hardware).
  • Test duties include:
  • Support and plan test events conducted at test sites as required by the specific test.
  • Configuration management of test owned assets. This includes specific to test configuration management (hardware components, specific payloads, software/firmware configuration) as well as fleet management (facilitate and track required maintenance, planning/assigning asset requirements for current testing and future efforts).
  • Generation of evaluation test plans and reports focusing on system functionality and suitability of software and hardware integration efforts. In addition to technical test planning, planning includes safety (risk, hazards, develop mitigations) and logistical (available hardware, airspace, personnel resources, timeline/scheduling).
  • Generate and execute test cards, conduct pre and post flight briefings, and manage test events with diverse support teams (pilots, engineering subject matter experts (SME), operations). Testing execution will include operating Altius when conducting system evaluation testing.
  • Collaborate with SMEs and cross functional teams within the business line through development and production testing, reporting of test findings, and test status. This includes adjudication of testing tasks and characterization of issues, observations, and detailing results.
  • Interface daily with hardware and software engineering teams.
  • Collect metrics for flight test events to include sortie information and delays.

Required Qualifications
  • A bachelor's degree or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution
  • Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly; apply them accurately; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
  • Must have strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills. Must play in active role in strengthening communication channels both within the team and externally (engineering, program leadership, operations).
  • Methodical, thorough, and detail oriented.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas.
  • Willingness to learn new skills and concepts.
  • Current or able to acquire an FAA 14 CFR Part 107: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems certification.
  • Current or able to acquire an FAA 14 CFR Part 61: Certification Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors (ground test complete is the ONLY requirement).
  • Previous experience or working knowledge of National Airspace and UAS operating guidelines and regulations.
  • Ability to obtain a security clearance.
  • Able to work extended hours as required.
  • Ability to travel as required for planning and testing.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Strong software and documentation experience; familiarity with Linux based operating systems, networking, ssh, and command line.
  • 1-3 years flight test engineering or system level testing experience.
  • Knowledge and experience with Group 2/3 fixed wing systems
  • Experience working DOD programs.

US Salary Range
$112,000-$149,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
  • Please always verify communications:
    • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to
  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

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

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