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Flight Test Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Tyonek Native Corporation

In addition to project management responsibilities, this position performs flight test engineer/experimental test pilot duties in support of developmental ground and flight testing, aircraft ...

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Test Engineer

Waynesboro, VA · On-site

$89K - $134K/yr

... flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people ... We are looking for you to join our team as an RF Test Engineer to support production and ...

Parsons Corporation

Advanced Test Engineer

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

$134K - $241K/yr

This oversight encompasses the full test lifecycle for flight, ground, and cyber testing, including ... Ability to lead and execute extensive testing and provide engineering support on systems, system ...

Parsons

Advanced Test Engineer

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

$134K - $241K/yr

This oversight encompasses the full test lifecycle for flight, ground, and cyber testing, including ... Ability to lead and execute extensive testing and provide engineering support on systems, system ...

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All JobsFlight Test Engineer JobsFlight Test Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Flight Test Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$43.1K

$133.7K

$202.3K

How much do flight test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight test engineer in Virginia is $133,728.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,600.00 and $158,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by flight test engineers during the testing process?

Flight Test Engineers often encounter challenges related to balancing safety with the need to gather comprehensive data during test flights. They must coordinate closely with pilots, design teams, and regulatory bodies to ensure all test objectives are met while adhering to strict safety protocols. Weather conditions, unexpected aircraft behavior, and last-minute design changes can also impact test schedules. Effective communication, adaptability, and attention to detail are essential for overcoming these challenges and ensuring successful test outcomes.

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

AspectFlight Test EngineerFlight Test Technician
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in aerospace or mechanical engineering; often requires FAA or EASA certificationsAssociate's or bachelor's in aerospace technology or related field; certifications may vary
Work EnvironmentDesigning, planning, analyzing flight tests; collaborating with engineers and pilotsAssisting with test preparations, data collection, and aircraft inspections
Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace manufacturing, research, and developmentInvolved in testing and maintenance within aerospace companies and testing facilities

Flight Test Engineers focus on designing and analyzing flight tests, requiring advanced engineering skills and certifications. Flight Test Technicians support these activities through hands-on testing and data collection. Both roles are essential in aerospace testing environments but differ in responsibilities and qualifications.

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

To thrive as a Flight Test Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace or mechanical engineering, strong analytical abilities, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with test instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and simulation software—along with certifications like FAA DER or EASA equivalent—are often required. Exceptional problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you collaborate effectively with pilots and multidisciplinary teams. These capabilities ensure accurate data collection, safe test operations, and successful validation of aircraft performance and safety standards.

What is a flight test engineer?

Flight Test Engineers are specialized professionals who plan, conduct, and analyze tests on aircraft and aerospace systems to ensure they meet safety, performance, and regulatory standards. They collaborate with pilots, design engineers, and technicians to develop test plans, monitor test flights, and interpret data collected during these flights. Their work is crucial in identifying potential issues, validating design changes, and certifying aircraft for operational use. Flight Test Engineers often work for aircraft manufacturers, government agencies, or research organizations.

What does a flight test engineer do?

As a flight test engineer, your job is to oversee testing the operations and performance of aircraft in line with FAA regulations and guidelines from the manufacturer. This job frequently involves planning, managing, coordinating, and executing a full spectrum of aircraft testing, including tests on all mechanical and electronic systems. Some details of this job vary based on the kinds of aircraft with which you work. Flight test engineers may work with everything from single-engine civilian aircraft to large, military planes. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of a flight test engineer often requires meeting the qualifications for a security clearance, studying guides and technical manuals, contacting part manufacturers, and excellent communication skills.

More about Flight Test Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Test Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Flight Test Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Flight Test Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Test Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Flight Test Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Flight Test Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Test Engineer jobs in VA? For Flight Test Engineer jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Flight Test Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Test Engineer job openings in Virginia 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 $133,728 per year, or $64.3 per hour.

Intermediate Software Test Engineer (Flight Safety Systems)

Peraton

Fort Belvoir, VA • On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago

Peraton rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

50th of 223 rated it services

Job description

Responsibilities
As a intermediate Software Test Engineer supporting Flight Safety (FS) systems within a national security space mission environment, you will be responsible for testing, validating, and integrating mission-critical software tools used to perform Flight Safety operations. You will ensure system reliability and operational readiness for tools that support conjunction assessment (CA), space object tracking, and ground threat deconfliction analysis.
In this role, you will support the SME in test planning, system validation, integration testing, and operational verification of FS software tools used in 24/7 operations. You will work closely with developers, system engineers, and operators to ensure that new capabilities and data sources are properly integrated into both legacy and evolving systems with minimal operational risk.
You will also support mission protection activities by ensuring systems accurately process resident space object (RSO) catalogs, ephemeris data, and trajectory inputs to identify collision risks and support decision-making for space operations stakeholders. A strong understanding of orbital mechanics and astrodynamics tools will be used to design effective test cases and validate system outputs.
Additionally, you will contribute to improving testing methodologies, system workflows, and operational procedures (TTPs) by identifying software issues, validating fixes in controlled environments, and supporting updates to training materials based on system changes and test outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
  • Support integration and verification testing of new data sources and software capabilities within legacy and next-generation FS systems
  • Design, execute, and document software test plans, regression tests, and operational validation scenarios in test and pre-production environments
  • Use Bash and Python scripts to support automated testing, data validation, troubleshooting, and system analysis in Linux-based classified environments
  • Validate system performance by executing conjunction assessment and screening workflows, including RSO-to-RSO and RSO-to-ground proximity analysis (e.g., ASW "SuperCombo"-type runs)
  • Perform pre- and post-launch validation of TLEs, state vectors, and maneuver ephemeris data against cataloged RSOs to ensure collision risk mitigation logic is functioning correctly
  • Operate and validate orbit propagation and analysis tools (e.g., STK or ASW-type systems), ensuring correct input handling, output accuracy, and reporting consistency
  • Support defect identification, root cause analysis, and issue tracking for software anomalies discovered during test and operational use
  • Participate in test readiness reviews, flight safety meetings, and operational training/exercise events
  • Develop and maintain test documentation, validation reports, and user/training materials, and provide hands-on instruction (OJT) to team members
  • Collaborate with engineers, operators, and external stakeholders to ensure system changes meet operational requirements and safety thresholds

***This position is contingent upon award of contract***
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
  • Minimum of 12 years w/o a degree or 10 years with AS/AA or 8 years with BS/BA; or 6 years with MS/MA; or 4 years with Ph.D
  • Active TS/SCI with adjudicated polygraph

Preferred Qualifications
  • 1+ years of experience with Flight Safety or astrodynamics test tools (e.g., STK, ASW SuperCombo), or STK Level 2 certification
  • 2+ years of combined experience in space operations, conjunction assessment, or flight safety systems testing
  • Understanding of orbital mechanics, conjunction analysis methods, and space domain awareness concepts
  • Experience validating or testing systems involving RSO catalogs, ephemeris data, and orbital propagation models
  • Ability to write and interpret Bash and Python scripts for test automation and data analysis
  • Familiarity with national security space mission environments (e.g., NRO-related systems and workflows)

Worklocation: Fort Belvoir
Peraton Overview
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.
Target Salary Range
$104,000 - $166,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
EEO
EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.

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About Peraton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017

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