H-1B Visa Flight Test Engineer Jobs
Flight Test Engineer roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under USCIS standards, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering. Defense contractors, commercial aviation firms, and aerospace OEMs are among the most active H-1B visa sponsors for this title, with petitions filed under SOC code 17-2011.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Lockheed Martin we keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work. With our employees as our priority, we provide career opportunities designed to propel development and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. This is a place for engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers who are ready to engage deeply, think critically, and build with purpose. You will not just launch a career. You will be part of something bigger. This is where the best are built.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Flight Test Ground Operations (Control) Engineer for F-35 aircraft. The successful applicant will provide Flight Test Ground Operations engineering support. Tasks will include coordination and execution of pre-flight and post-flight activities to ensure aircraft's test readiness including issuance, and closure of documentation relating to work performed on the aircraft, and coordination of aircraft modifications. Position requires control and tracking of aircraft configuration, coordinating and staging of support equipment, developing and maintaining aircraft test schedules, and coordinating with other organizations associated with test readiness.
Designs, develops, and tests a variety of power plants, aircraft, missiles, and parts, taking into consideration the most efficient use of the natural laws affecting flight. Establishes structural specifications, performs stress analysis, and conducts performance tests.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelors degree in Mechanical, Aeronautical, or Technical Engineering Discipline.
Coursework/projects with troubleshooting systems.
Good communication and organization skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Excellent organization and communication skills
- Self starter and logical problem solver
- Experience working with Aircraft Systems
PAY INFORMATION
Full-Time Salary Range: $65500.00 - $121700.00
At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.
The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills as well as market (work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.
BENEFITS OFFERED
Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.
- Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
- For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full-time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
INTRODUCTION
At Lockheed Martin we keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work. With our employees as our priority, we provide career opportunities designed to propel development and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. This is a place for engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers who are ready to engage deeply, think critically, and build with purpose. You will not just launch a career. You will be part of something bigger. This is where the best are built.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Flight Test Ground Operations (Control) Engineer for F-35 aircraft. The successful applicant will provide Flight Test Ground Operations engineering support. Tasks will include coordination and execution of pre-flight and post-flight activities to ensure aircraft's test readiness including issuance, and closure of documentation relating to work performed on the aircraft, and coordination of aircraft modifications. Position requires control and tracking of aircraft configuration, coordinating and staging of support equipment, developing and maintaining aircraft test schedules, and coordinating with other organizations associated with test readiness.
Designs, develops, and tests a variety of power plants, aircraft, missiles, and parts, taking into consideration the most efficient use of the natural laws affecting flight. Establishes structural specifications, performs stress analysis, and conducts performance tests.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelors degree in Mechanical, Aeronautical, or Technical Engineering Discipline.
Coursework/projects with troubleshooting systems.
Good communication and organization skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Excellent organization and communication skills
- Self starter and logical problem solver
- Experience working with Aircraft Systems
PAY INFORMATION
Full-Time Salary Range: $65500.00 - $121700.00
At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.
The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills as well as market (work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.
BENEFITS OFFERED
Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.
- Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
- For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full-time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
See all H-1B Visa Flight Test Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Flight Test Engineer
Verify your degree matches specialty occupation
USCIS requires your degree field to directly relate to flight test engineering. An aerospace or mechanical engineering degree is a clean match. An unrelated bachelor's weakens the petition, so gather transcripts and a credential evaluation before applying.
Target defense contractors with ITAR clearance pipelines
Many flight test roles sit inside ITAR-controlled programs. Filter your search to employers who have sponsored H-1B workers in aerospace engineering roles and who actively support security clearance sponsorship for non-citizens.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter Flight Test Engineer openings by employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history. This cuts out postings from companies that list the role but have never actually sponsored a visa.
Negotiate petition filing before your OPT expires
If you're on OPT, your employer must file your H-1B petition by April 1 for an October 1 start. Confirm the employer's internal HR timeline at the offer stage, not after signing, to avoid missing the cap-subject window.
Check prevailing wage level using OFLC Wage Search
Flight test engineering wages vary sharply by location and experience level. Run the OFLC Wage Search for SOC 17-2011 in your work site's metropolitan area before negotiating salary, so your offered wage meets the DOL Level I through IV threshold.
Clarify which entity files when joining a contractor
Defense primes often place flight test engineers at government facilities through subcontractors. Confirm which legal entity will be your H-1B petitioner and whether that entity has cap-exempt status before accepting an offer.
H-1B Visa Flight Test Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Flight Test Engineer role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. Flight test engineering requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering, which satisfies USCIS's specialty occupation standard. The role maps to SOC code 17-2011 and appears in O*NET as requiring a Job Zone 4 or 5 education level. Your employer confirms the degree requirement in the Labor Condition Application filed with DOL.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for Flight Test Engineers?
Defense contractors, commercial aircraft manufacturers, maintenance and repair organizations, and aerospace systems integrators are the primary sponsors. These employers file LCAs with DOL before petitioning USCIS. You can identify which specific employers have active H-1B filing history for engineering roles by searching on Migrate Mate, which surfaces DOL disclosure data by occupation.
Does holding a security clearance affect my H-1B petition as a Flight Test Engineer?
Your H-1B petition itself is separate from security clearance eligibility. USCIS approves the petition based on specialty occupation and degree requirements alone. However, many flight test programs operate under ITAR or require a clearance, and some employers will not sponsor clearances for non-permanent residents. Confirm the employer's clearance sponsorship policy before accepting an offer.
Can a Flight Test Engineer role at a government facility qualify for cap-exempt H-1B status?
Only if the petitioning employer itself qualifies as a cap-exempt institution, such as a nonprofit affiliated with a university or a government research organization. Working at a government facility as a contractor placed by a cap-subject staffing firm does not confer cap-exempt status. Confirm your direct employer's classification with USCIS standards before assuming cap exemption applies.
How does the H-1B prevailing wage requirement work for Flight Test Engineers?
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your role, location, and experience level. Prevailing wages for SOC 17-2011 are published in four levels through the OFLC Wage Search. Entry-level positions typically map to Level I or II, while senior flight test roles with specialized certification requirements may justify Level III or IV filings, which also reduces RFE risk on the specialty occupation determination.