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Summer Flight Controls Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

General Atomics

Flight Controls Engineer

Poway, CA · On-site

We have an exciting opportunity for a Flight Controls Engineer in the San Diego (Poway, CA) area. In this position, you will play an active role in the design and development of cutting-edge next ...

General Atomics

Flight Controls Engineer

Poway, CA · On-site

We have an exciting opportunity for an Advanced Programs Flight Controls Engineer in the San Diego (Poway, CA) area. In this position, you will play an active role in the design and development of ...

Sapsol Technologies Inc

Flight Controls Engineer

Strong expertise in aircraft flight dynamics, aerodynamics, and handling qualities * Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C++ programming * Experience with control systems design (Classical, Modern ...

Estes Aerospace

Flight Controls Engineer

Vienna, VA · On-site

... engineers who want to close the loop -- not just model a system, but actually fly it. There's nothing quite like that first flight test. Estes Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes ...

Estes Aerospace

Flight Controls Engineer

Vienna, VA · On-site

... engineers who want to close the loop -- not just model a system, but actually fly it. There's nothing quite like that first flight test. Estes Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes ...

Shield AI

Flight Controls Engineer (R4815)

Dallas, TX · On-site

$220K - $340K/yr

Mentor and guide engineers while setting the technical standard for control system performance and rigor Required qualifications: * 10+ years of experience in flight controls / GNC on real flight ...

Shield AI

Flight Controls Engineer (R4815)

Dallas, TX

$220K - $340K/yr

Mentor and guide engineers while setting the technical standard for control system performance and rigor Required qualifications: * 10+ years of experience in flight controls / GNC on real flight ...

Shield AI

Flight Controls Engineer (R4815)

Seattle, WA

$220K - $340K/yr

Mentor and guide engineers while setting the technical standard for control system performance and rigor Required qualifications: * 10+ years of experience in flight controls / GNC on real flight ...

Shield AI

Flight Controls Engineer (R4815)

Seattle, WA · On-site

$220K - $340K/yr

Mentor and guide engineers while setting the technical standard for control system performance and rigor Required qualifications: * 10+ years of experience in flight controls / GNC on real flight ...

Skyways

Senior Flight Controls Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

The Opportunity This is a hands-on controls role on a small, fast moving GNC team. You will own ... Analyze flight logs, find root cause, and turn findings into control fixes. * Write and own flight ...

Skyways

Senior Flight Controls Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

The Opportunity This is a hands-on controls role on a small, fast moving GNC team. You will own ... Analyze flight logs, find root cause, and turn findings into control fixes. * Write and own flight ...

Skyways

Senior Flight Controls Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

The Opportunity This is a hands-on controls role on a small, fast moving GNC team. You will own ... Analyze flight logs, find root cause, and turn findings into control fixes. * Write and own flight ...

Merlin Labs

Staff Engineer, Core Flight Controls

OR · On-site +1

$200K - $265K/yr

You are an experienced flight controls engineer passionate about autonomous flight who wants to contribute to making airplanes fly themselves. You are familiar with fixed wing aircraft and the ...

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Summer Flight Controls Engineer information

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How much do summer flight controls engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for summer flight controls engineer in the United States is $82.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77.40 and $90.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a summer flight controls engineer?

Summer Flight Controls Engineers are typically interns or temporary employees who work with aerospace engineering teams during the summer months, focusing on the design, analysis, testing, and improvement of flight control systems in aircraft or spacecraft. Their responsibilities often include assisting with simulations, debugging software, running experiments, and supporting the development of control algorithms that ensure safe and efficient vehicle operation. This role provides hands-on experience and helps students or early-career engineers gain insight into the aerospace industry and the complexities of flight control systems.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a summer flight controls engineer expect during an internship?

As a Summer Flight Controls Engineer, you can expect to work on projects involving the design, simulation, and testing of flight control systems for aircraft or drones. Typical responsibilities include supporting model development, running hardware-in-the-loop simulations, analyzing flight test data, and assisting with troubleshooting control algorithms. You'll often collaborate with senior engineers, software teams, and test pilots to ensure the systems meet safety and performance standards. This hands-on experience provides valuable exposure to the aerospace industry's tools and processes, which can be a strong stepping stone for future career growth.

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

To thrive as a Summer Flight Controls Engineer, you need a solid understanding of aerospace engineering principles, control systems, and typically enrollment in a relevant engineering program. Familiarity with tools like MATLAB/Simulink, flight simulation software, and version control systems is commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication help you excel in collaborative and fast-paced project environments. These competencies are crucial for designing and testing reliable flight control systems that ensure aircraft safety and optimal performance.

What is the difference between Summer Flight Controls Engineer vs Summer Avionics Engineer?

AspectSummer Flight Controls EngineerSummer Avionics Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering; relevant certificationsBachelor's in Electrical, Electronics, or Aerospace Engineering; certifications may vary
Work EnvironmentDesign, testing, and integration of flight control systems in aircraftDevelopment and testing of avionic systems and electronic components in aircraft
Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace and aircraft manufacturing companiesIn aerospace, defense, and avionics system providers

The Summer Flight Controls Engineer focuses on designing and testing aircraft control systems, while the Summer Avionics Engineer specializes in electronic systems within aircraft. Both roles require similar technical backgrounds and work environments, but their specific responsibilities differ in system focus.

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Summer Flight Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Summer Flight Controls Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $171,051 per year, or $82.2 per hour.

Flight Controls Engineer

Poway, CA • On-site

General Atomics
Space Research Administration • 10K+ employees
Learn more about General Atomicsexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 16 days ago

General Atomics rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 39 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Summary
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Flight Controls Engineer in the San Diego (Poway, CA) area. In this position, you will play an active role in the design and development of cutting-edge next generation unmanned aircraft platforms. Responsibilities include control law design and analysis, physics model generation, code verification and validation, and flight test. These responsibilities can span the entire lifecycle of a new aircraft development program, from requirements refinement to detailed design to prototype flight tests. You will have the chance to contribute to a broad swath of novel aircraft platforms ranging from Small Unmanned Air Systems (SUAS) to Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This position offers competitive benefits, including 9/80 work schedule, medical, dental, employer-matched 401(k), pension plan, employee referral program, and more.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Perform GNC-related tasks for all phases of a new aircraft development program, including use case refinement, requirements development, clean-sheet design, lower order modelling, control law development, software integration and validation, flight test planning, and analysis of flight data through prototype flight tests.
  • Translate the physics of flight control avionics, aerodynamic characteristics, and mass properties of a conceptual aircraft into MATLAB scripts and Simulink models for real-time simulation and code generation.
  • Design discrete flight control laws, continually performing stability and flying qualities analyses.
  • Independently verify and validate the embedded control law software on the simulated and actual hardware.
  • Support development of analytic tools as needed for novel aircraft configurations.
  • Participate in internal and customer-facing design reviews, test readiness reviews, flight briefings, and technical interchange meetings.
  • Collaborate among peers, as part of a multi-disciplinary team (Systems, Software, Mechanical, and Electrical engineering), to solve unique and complex engineering challenges.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
Job Qualifications
  • Typically requires a bachelor's degree, master's degree or Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: six or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, four or more years of experience with a master's degree, or two or more years with a Ph.D. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
  • Relevant background in the areas of low- and high-speed aerodynamics, control systems, and aircraft dynamics.
  • Experience with MATLAB/Simulink modeling, simulation, and analysis of linear and nonlinear dynamic systems.
  • Strong knowledge of classical and modern control theory, lower order modeling, and filtering techniques.
  • Ability to self-motivate and self-organize to achieve program established deadlines; proactively working independently and collaborating with other disciplines, seeking out help when appropriate.
  • Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with other departments, customers, and/or government representatives.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance is required.
DESIRED SKILLS / QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Experience with flight control design and analysis for fixed and rotary wing aircraft or missile systems.
  • Experience designing Simulink models for code generation and integration into an established C/C++ codebase.
  • Familiarity with Stateflow, Python, and/or C/C++.
  • Exposure to adjacent technical areas, including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), aerodynamics and performance, software, and/or aircraft structures.
  • Active DoD Secret, or higher, security clearance.

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About General Atomics

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General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1955

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