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Flight Test Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Raytheon

Tomahawk Flight Test Engineer

Houston, TX

In this role, you will be supporting the successful completion of flight test events, platform ... Test Systems design experience and collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines, such as ...

Interlune

Lunar Surface Test Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$110K - $195K/yr

We are seeking a test engineer to develop and execute test approaches for lunar surface systems across early R&D, prototype development, environmental verification, and flight hardware qualification.

Intuitive Machines LLC

Test Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

Test Engineer Houston, TX About Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting ... Setup and perform tests of various components of space flight vehicles * Support integrated testing ...

Cimarron

Software Test Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$125K - $200K/yr

Support software test activities in prototype, simulation, and flight environments, including ... Collaborate closely with software developers, systems engineers, and subject matter experts ...

Venus Aerospace

Test Engineer

Houston, TX

... speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the ... Test Engineer As a Test Engineer, you will play a key role on a multidisciplinary team responsible ...

Venus Aerospace

Test Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

... speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the ... Test Engineer As a Test Engineer, you will play a key role on a multidisciplinary team responsible ...

Venus Aerospace

Test Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

... speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the ... Test Engineer As a Test Engineer, you will play a key role on a multidisciplinary team responsible ...

Venus Aerospace

Test Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

... speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the ... Test Engineer As a Test Engineer, you will play a key role on a multidisciplinary team responsible ...

KBR

Test Engineer - Spaceflight Hardware

Houston, TX · On-site

Test Engineer - Spaceflight Hardware Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! Around here, we define the ... Awareness of the Flight Hardware Development processing as outlined in SA-WI-014 and EA-023 is ...

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All JobsFlight Test Engineer JobsFlight Test Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Flight Test Engineer information

See Houston, TX salary details

$41.5K

$128.8K

$194.8K

How much do flight test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight test engineer in Houston, TX is $128,811.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,700.00 and $152,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior aerospace engineers, including experienced Flight Test Engineers working in the aerospace industry, can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses, stock options, and extensive experience. High-level engineers with specialized skills, advanced certifications, and leadership roles in large companies or defense contractors are more likely to reach this compensation level.

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.

How hard is it to become a flight test engineer?

Becoming a flight test engineer typically requires a bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering, along with experience in aircraft systems and testing. Strong analytical skills, knowledge of flight operations, and familiarity with testing protocols are essential, and obtaining certifications like the FAA's pilot or test pilot license can be beneficial. The role often involves rigorous training and safety procedures, making it a challenging but achievable career path for qualified engineers.

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.

How much do flight test engineers get paid?

Flight test engineers typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry sector. Senior engineers with specialized skills or certifications can earn higher salaries, especially in aerospace or defense companies.

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 are Flight Test Engineers?

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.

What do flight test engineers do?

Flight test engineers design, plan, and oversee testing of aircraft and aerospace systems to evaluate performance, safety, and compliance with regulations. They analyze test data, troubleshoot issues, and work closely with pilots, engineers, and manufacturers using specialized tools and instrumentation. Their work often involves testing in controlled environments and requires knowledge of aerodynamics, systems integration, and safety standards.
More about Flight Test Engineer jobs
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Flight Test Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Test Engineer job openings in Houston, TX as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,811 per year, or $61.9 per hour.

Tomahawk Flight Test Engineer

Raytheon

Houston, TX

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Raytheon rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 99 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 536 rated manufacturers

Job description

Date Posted:

2026-07-20

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-AZ-TUCSON-9020 ~ 9020 S Rita Rd ~ BLDG 9020

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance​

Security Clearance Type:

DoD Clearance: Secret

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

 At Raytheon, the foundation of everything we do is rooted in our values and a higher calling – to help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression. We bring the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today’s mission and stay ahead of tomorrow’s threat. Our team solves tough, meaningful problems that create a safer, more secure world. 

In this role, you will be supporting the successful completion of flight test events, platform integration laboratory testing events, and the associated analysis of test data. The position is located in Tucson Arizona. 

We value diverse skills and experience, so don’t hold back. Your qualification could add tremendous value to our team. Our customers come from all different backgrounds, and so do our employees. If you’re passionate about what you could accomplish here, we’d love to hear from you. 

Responsibilities to Anticipate: 

  • Perform integration, verification, and testing to ensure the system under test performs according to design, specs and/or requirements 

  • Perform data collection activities, including review and assessment of data elements, and provide detailed reports of results 

  • Trace and/or correct faults in mechanical or electronic systems. Familiarity with failure reporting, analysis, corrective action and/or fault tree analysis 

  • Create/modify documentation in support of reviews associated with formal testing, which include Test Readiness Review (TRR), Consent to Ship (CTS), and Test Data Review (TDR) packages 

  • Support field testing for land and shipboard testing 

  • Able to work in a high-paced environment 

  • Generate CR, CN, or VARs, complete data package and take to board (ERB/CCB) 

  • Monitor / manage upcoming tasks; assign resources (working knowledge on MS Project) 

  • Collaborate actively with CAM, IPT, TA, CE, attend weekly meetings to provide status, needs 

Qualifications You Must Have: 

  • Typically requires Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience OR a Master’s Degree and a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience 

  • Hardware Systems Integration experience, with preference for integration on shipboard platforms 

  • Experience supporting field tests, or systems deployed in the field 

  • Telemetry Analysis experience 

  • Experience performing maintenance and repair of weapons platforms, including troubleshooting, fault isolation, and resolution activities 

  • Experience using Earned Value Management systems 

Qualifications We Value: 

  • Technician experience working on military platforms, such as Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, Ground Based, and ship-based platforms 

  • Experience in integration with test equipment, telemetry data analysis tools, and missile systems host platforms. 

  • Experience managing and presenting technical data to Stakeholders and Customer community, in design reviews and technical interchange meetings. 

  • Technical leadership with capture/pursuit experience, including contribution or authoring of white papers, RFI responses, proposal of technical volumes, or related experience 

  • Experience with RF spectral and temporal effects for sensor and backgrounds, including clutter, multipath, self-interference, grounding and shielding, and mitigation factors. 

  • Experience in integrating RF/EO sensor output, either modulated waveforms or streams of digital samples used for real-time representation of RF/EO scenes data collection / analysis (including Telemetry) 

  • Test Systems design experience and collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines, such as electrical, electronics, mechanical, software, and computer engineering. 

  • Experience in RF/EO integration of hardware systems with high level of understanding of digital signal processing algorithms, advanced waveforms, antenna patterns, and techniques used in resource-constrained missile systems. 

  • CAMEO experience 

What We Offer 

  • Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation. 

  • Relocation Eligible – Relocation assistance available for this position 

Learn More & Apply Now! 

  • Please consider the following role type definition as you apply for this role. 

  • Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products 

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.

The salary range for this role is 132,400 USD - 251,600 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills. Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance. This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply. RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

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