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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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
Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Flight Test Engineer to join our flight test team. This role requires a wide range of knowledge and skill that includes developing detailed flight test plans for experimental CTOL/VTOL fly-by-wire aircraft, executing testing as a crewmember, and test data analysis. The role involves planning and execution of both development and certification flight testing. Flight testing at Joby Aviation is very fast-paced, and we are looking for an individual who can work with system designers to develop test procedures, deal with frequently changing test scenarios, and lead/follow effectively. This role can be based at our Flight Test Headquarters at Marina, CA, or at our secondary flight test facility in Hollister, CA.
Responsibilities
- Develop test programs to strategically expand the envelope and capabilities of our vehicles from experimental development through certification flight test
- Perform flight test planning, flight readiness reviews, flight briefs/debriefs, act as a crewmember during test execution and perform post flight data analysis
- Conduct engineering analysis of flight test data to support aircraft design and certification deliverables
- Coordinate with other engineering groups to ensure input from subject matter experts informs test planning and test execution
- Work as a member of the flight crew including monitoring data in real time to assure the safety and proper conduct of flight tests
- Report on completed tests including reporting any observed deficiencies and findings of compliance with requirements or regulations
- Advise the flight test pilot of nature of the data to inform real time decisions affecting safety, efficiency and effectiveness
- Develop expert level knowledge of the systems and aircraft under test
- Complete administrative work associated with testing including configuration management, squawk reporting, flight limitation management and test card creation
- Assist with troubleshooting and root cause investigation of issues observed during flight testing
- Develop flight manuals and supporting documentation necessary to operate the vehicles in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices
- Other duties as assigned or required
Required
- Bachelor of Science (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or other technical field) degree or equivalent experience and training
- Previous experimental flight test experience as a Flight Test Engineer
- Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with colleagues across a wide range of technical disciplines
- Strong technical and analytical skills
- Must be able to work both independently and on a team and be able to work extended hours and travel as required
- Read and speak English proficiently
- At least 30% travel required
Desired
- FTE graduate of a recognized test pilot school or equivalent on the job experience
- Data analysis experience using Matlab, Python or similar
- Civil aircraft certification experience including use of ARP 4754 processes for requirements and FAA AC 23-8C or AC 27-1B for flight test
- Experimental flight test experience as a Flight Test Engineer, preferably including VTOL or STOVL and fly-by-wire
- Flight Analyst DER or ODA Unit Member
- Familiarity with FAA Order 4040.26C
Additional Information
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $107,400 - $174,049/yr. The compensation package offered will be determined by location, 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.
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
Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate and driven Flight Test Engineer to join our flight test team. This role requires a wide range of knowledge and skill that includes developing detailed flight test plans for experimental CTOL/VTOL fly-by-wire aircraft, executing testing as a crewmember, and test data analysis. The role involves planning and execution of both development and certification flight testing. Flight testing at Joby Aviation is very fast-paced, and we are looking for an individual who can work with system designers to develop test procedures, deal with frequently changing test scenarios, and lead/follow effectively. This role can be based at our Flight Test Headquarters at Marina, CA, or at our secondary flight test facility in Hollister, CA.
Responsibilities
- Develop test programs to strategically expand the envelope and capabilities of our vehicles from experimental development through certification flight test
- Perform flight test planning, flight readiness reviews, flight briefs/debriefs, act as a crewmember during test execution and perform post flight data analysis
- Conduct engineering analysis of flight test data to support aircraft design and certification deliverables
- Coordinate with other engineering groups to ensure input from subject matter experts informs test planning and test execution
- Work as a member of the flight crew including monitoring data in real time to assure the safety and proper conduct of flight tests
- Report on completed tests including reporting any observed deficiencies and findings of compliance with requirements or regulations
- Advise the flight test pilot of nature of the data to inform real time decisions affecting safety, efficiency and effectiveness
- Develop expert level knowledge of the systems and aircraft under test
- Complete administrative work associated with testing including configuration management, squawk reporting, flight limitation management and test card creation
- Assist with troubleshooting and root cause investigation of issues observed during flight testing
- Develop flight manuals and supporting documentation necessary to operate the vehicles in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices
- Other duties as assigned or required
Required
- Bachelor of Science (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or other technical field) degree or equivalent experience and training
- Previous experimental flight test experience as a Flight Test Engineer
- Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with colleagues across a wide range of technical disciplines
- Strong technical and analytical skills
- Must be able to work both independently and on a team and be able to work extended hours and travel as required
- Read and speak English proficiently
- At least 30% travel required
Desired
- FTE graduate of a recognized test pilot school or equivalent on the job experience
- Data analysis experience using Matlab, Python or similar
- Civil aircraft certification experience including use of ARP 4754 processes for requirements and FAA AC 23-8C or AC 27-1B for flight test
- Experimental flight test experience as a Flight Test Engineer, preferably including VTOL or STOVL and fly-by-wire
- Flight Analyst DER or ODA Unit Member
- Familiarity with FAA Order 4040.26C
Additional Information
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $107,400 - $174,049/yr. The compensation package offered will be determined by location, 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.
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.