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Flight Test Instrumentation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

Electra

Flight Test Engineer

Manassas, VA · On-site

$90K - $170K/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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Flight Test Instrumentation information

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$137.5K

How much do flight test instrumentation jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight test instrumentation in the United States is $114,999.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,000.00 and $130,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do flight testers make?

Flight test instrumentation specialists typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in data analysis and aircraft systems may earn higher salaries. Compensation often includes benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.

What are the primary daily responsibilities of someone working in Flight Test Instrumentation?

Professionals in Flight Test Instrumentation are typically responsible for installing, calibrating, and maintaining a wide array of sensors and data acquisition systems on aircraft before, during, and after test flights. Daily tasks may involve working closely with flight test engineers and pilots to define instrumentation requirements, troubleshoot issues, and validate data integrity. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is common, as is ensuring all instrumentation complies with strict safety and quality standards. This hands-on role often requires adaptability to changing test schedules and a proactive approach to solving technical challenges in dynamic environments.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced aerospace or defense engineers, such as senior flight test instrumentation engineers or systems engineers, can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses and profit sharing. These roles typically require advanced degrees, specialized skills in avionics and instrumentation, and extensive industry experience. Compensation varies based on company, location, and level of expertise.

What is a Flight Test Instrumentation job?

A Flight Test Instrumentation job involves designing, installing, maintaining, and operating specialized sensors and data acquisition systems used in aircraft testing. These engineers ensure accurate measurement of parameters like speed, pressure, temperature, and structural loads to evaluate aircraft performance and safety. They work closely with flight test engineers, pilots, and analysts to collect and interpret crucial flight data. Their role is essential for validating aircraft designs and ensuring regulatory compliance.

How much do flight test instrumentation engineers make?

Flight test instrumentation engineers typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior engineers or those with specialized skills in data acquisition systems and aircraft systems may earn higher salaries, especially in aerospace hubs or with advanced certifications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Flight Test Instrumentation position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Flight Test Instrumentation, you need a strong background in electronics, data acquisition, and sensor integration, typically supported by a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with instrumentation software, data logging systems, and industry standards such as ARINC or MIL-STD protocols is crucial, and certification in safety procedures may be required. Attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are valuable soft skills in this role. These capabilities are essential for ensuring precise and reliable data collection, supporting test team collaboration, and maintaining safety during complex flight test operations.

What is flight test instrumentation?

Flight test instrumentation involves installing and managing specialized sensors, data acquisition systems, and recording equipment on aircraft to collect performance, safety, and flight data during testing. Professionals in this field analyze the data to evaluate aircraft systems and ensure compliance with safety standards, often working with tools like data loggers and software for data analysis.
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Flight Test Instrumentation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Test Instrumentation job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,999 per year, or $55.3 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

Posted 22 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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