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
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Archer is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems ("UAS"), aviation-related physical artificial intelligence ("AI") solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors.
Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist in the preparation of Development, Company, and FAA Certification Ground and Flight test plans
- Contribute to the preparation of test cards
- Interface with engineers, maintainers, technicians, and program management to accomplish test objectives safely and efficiently
- Contribute to the production of Company/Certification reports
- Prepare material in support of test readiness reviews
- Provide support for test events as a flight test engineer and/or test conductor on-board the aircraft and in the control room
- Participate in flight briefs and debriefs for test events
- Participate in test setup (flight line) activities
- Report and communicate test results to the Flight Test and Engineering teams
- Participate in all aspects of the Flight Test Safety Risk Management process
- Prepare test operating limitations and advisories in collaboration with the appropriate engineering disciplines
- Participate in safety review board (SRB) meetings
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelors or higher degree in Aerospace or Mechanical engineering from an ABET accredited institution
- Must be willing to travel 25% of the time within 100 miles of the SF Bay Area
- A collaborative attitude and a meticulous attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficient with data analysis tools, e.g. Matlab, Python, etc.
- Able to obtain and maintain a FAA Class 3 medical certificate issued through a FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- FAA pilot certificate
- Hands-on experience with test assets in a lab or other environment
COMPENSATION
- Base pay between $96,300 - $120,400. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer's People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Information collected and processed as part of any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Archer's Candidate Privacy Policy.
Certain positions may be eligible for visa sponsorship.
Archer is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Archer Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters with whom it does not have a prior written agreement. Archer reserves the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes that it receives and bears no responsibility for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes. If you are a recruiting agency or individual recruiter wishing to do business with Archer, please reach out to People@archer.com. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.
INTRODUCTION
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Archer is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems ("UAS"), aviation-related physical artificial intelligence ("AI") solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors.
Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist in the preparation of Development, Company, and FAA Certification Ground and Flight test plans
- Contribute to the preparation of test cards
- Interface with engineers, maintainers, technicians, and program management to accomplish test objectives safely and efficiently
- Contribute to the production of Company/Certification reports
- Prepare material in support of test readiness reviews
- Provide support for test events as a flight test engineer and/or test conductor on-board the aircraft and in the control room
- Participate in flight briefs and debriefs for test events
- Participate in test setup (flight line) activities
- Report and communicate test results to the Flight Test and Engineering teams
- Participate in all aspects of the Flight Test Safety Risk Management process
- Prepare test operating limitations and advisories in collaboration with the appropriate engineering disciplines
- Participate in safety review board (SRB) meetings
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelors or higher degree in Aerospace or Mechanical engineering from an ABET accredited institution
- Must be willing to travel 25% of the time within 100 miles of the SF Bay Area
- A collaborative attitude and a meticulous attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficient with data analysis tools, e.g. Matlab, Python, etc.
- Able to obtain and maintain a FAA Class 3 medical certificate issued through a FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- FAA pilot certificate
- Hands-on experience with test assets in a lab or other environment
COMPENSATION
- Base pay between $96,300 - $120,400. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer's People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Information collected and processed as part of any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Archer's Candidate Privacy Policy.
Certain positions may be eligible for visa sponsorship.
Archer is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Archer Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters with whom it does not have a prior written agreement. Archer reserves the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes that it receives and bears no responsibility for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes. If you are a recruiting agency or individual recruiter wishing to do business with Archer, please reach out to People@archer.com. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.
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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.