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Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

General Atomics

Engineer V

Poway, CA · On-site

$105K - $189K/yr

With limited direction, this position serves as the Flight Test Instrumentation Engineering Supervisor within the Mechanical Engineering Flight Test Team. The successful candidate will lead a team of ...

Vast

Test Instrumentation Engineer

Mojave, CA · On-site

$86K - $120K/yr

Vast is looking for a Test Instrumentation Engineer , reporting to the Senior Manager, Engineering (E-2), to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design, build, and ...

MORSE Corp

Flight Test Engineer

Cambridge, MA

Ensure necessary test support equipment and instrumentation are available and operable to support ... engineer in a flight, wind tunnel, or other test environment * Experience with design of test ...

Electra Aero, Inc.

Flight Test Engineer

Manassas, VA

$102K - $124K/yr

Support the development of a flight test instrumentation plan for the Electra EL-9 aircraft. * Other duties as assigned. What You Bring: * B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (or related STEM discipline ...

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All JobsFlight Test Instrumentation Engineer Jobs

Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer information

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$43.5K

$134.9K

$204K

How much do flight test instrumentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight test instrumentation engineer in the United States is $134,885.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,500.00 and $160,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectFlight Test Instrumentation EngineerFlight Test Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning, installing, and maintaining instrumentation systems for flight testingPlanning, executing, and analyzing flight test programs
Required SkillsInstrumentation systems, data acquisition, troubleshootingTest planning, flight operations, data analysis
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, aircraft, test rangesFlight test aircraft, test facilities
CertificationsOften requires engineering degrees, instrumentation certificationsEngineering degrees, pilot licenses sometimes preferred

While both roles support flight testing, the Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer specializes in instrumentation systems and data collection, whereas the Flight Test Engineer oversees the overall test process and flight operations. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical or aerospace engineering, data acquisition, and instrumentation, typically backed by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with data acquisition systems (such as National Instruments or Dewesoft), sensor calibration, and industry safety standards is crucial. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective teamwork set standout professionals apart in this field. These abilities ensure accurate data collection, reliable test outcomes, and safe, efficient flight test operations.

What does a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer do?

A Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer is responsible for designing, installing, and maintaining the measurement systems used during aircraft testing. They ensure that sensors and data acquisition systems accurately capture necessary data, such as temperature, pressure, speed, and structural loads, during flight tests. Their work is critical for validating aircraft performance and safety, as well as for troubleshooting and improving designs. These engineers collaborate closely with flight test teams, data analysts, and aerospace engineers throughout the testing process.

How does a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer typically collaborate with other teams during a test campaign?

Flight Test Instrumentation Engineers work closely with flight test engineers, pilots, data analysts, and aircraft maintenance teams throughout a test campaign. They are responsible for ensuring that data acquisition systems are correctly installed, calibrated, and operating as required, and they often participate in pre-flight briefings, real-time test monitoring, and post-flight data reviews. Effective communication and collaboration are crucial, as the role requires translating test requirements into practical instrumentation solutions while addressing any technical challenges that arise during testing. This teamwork ensures that high-quality, reliable data is collected to support aircraft certification and development.
More about Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer jobs
What states have the most Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer jobs are:
Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $134,885 per year, or $64.8 per hour.
Technical Program Manager, Flight Test Instrumentation

Technical Program Manager, Flight Test Instrumentation

Joby Aviation

Marina, CA • On-site

$113K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

Company Overview
Imagine a piloted air taxi that takes off vertically, then quietly carries you and your fellow passengers over the congested city streets below, enabling you to spend more time with the people and places that matter most. At Joby, we've been working to make that dream a reality since 2009 and we're now in the final stages of certifying our aircraft with the FAA. With plans to launch our aircraft in the US and Dubai, we're now scaling manufacturing and preparing for the launch of our commercial service.
Overview
The Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) Technical Program Manager (TPM) is responsible for planning, coordinating, and driving the successful delivery of instrumentation and flight test systems used in experimental and certification flight test campaigns. This role bridges hardware engineering, software integration, and flight test operations to ensure instrumentation is delivered on schedule, within scope, and to the quality standards required for airworthiness compliance. The FTI TPM thrives in a fast-paced, highly technical environment and brings structure to complex, multi-disciplinary development programs.
Responsibilities
  • Own and maintain master FTI and Ground Control Station program schedules, tracking design development, hardware procurement, installation, ground verification and system calibration, and instrumentation readiness milestones across multiple test campaigns
  • Drive alignment across design engineers, flight test engineers, data analysts, and certification engineers to ensure flight test systems meet program, company, regulatory, and safety requirements for installation on experimental or type-certificated aircraft
  • Coordinate across instrumentation engineers, supply chain, manufacturing, and flight test operations to ensure on-time delivery
  • Support qualification and acceptance testing of new instrumentation systems and sensors prior to flight operations
  • Ensure traceability of instrumentation calibration records and data quality assurance in accordance with program standards
  • Facilitate incident and anomaly response related to instrumentation failures in the field, coordinating with engineering for root cause and corrective action
  • Develop and maintain status reports and proactively identify and escalate blockers, driving creative solutions to maintain program momentum through design, build, and test phases
  • Manage the FTI & Ground Control Station budget, including budget forecasting and expenditure tracking, vendor identification and purchasing.

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field
  • 3+ years of experience in an engineering environment with demonstrated responsibility for developing and implementing highly integrated engineering solutions
  • Familiarity with flight test instrumentation systems, including data acquisition systems, sensors, signal conditioning, and telemetry
  • Strong understanding of the hardware development lifecycle, from early concept and design through manufacturing, integration, ground test, and flight test
  • Demonstrated organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail in a safety-critical environment
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical topics to diverse audiences including engineers, test pilots, and executives
  • Proven ability to simultaneously manage multiple high-paced engineering projects and competing priorities
  • Experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet or similar project management tools, Confluence, and/or JIRA
  • Proficiency in common workplace software including word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications

Desired
  • Experience supporting FAA or EASA type certification programs
  • Hands-on experience with flight test instrumentation installation, checkout, or calibration
  • Exposure to aircraft wiring, avionics integration, or structural instrumentation (strain gauges, accelerometers, pressure transducers)
  • Knowledge of airworthiness requirements for test article modifications and experimental aircraft operations
  • Exposure to mechanical design tools (SolidWorks, CATIA), DAQ software, and version control practices
  • Experience coordinating engineering design revision cycles to address integration and in-service discrepancies.

Additional Information
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $113,000 - $195,800/yr. The compensation package will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Joby also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan with a company match, an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.
Joby is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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