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Senior / Principal Engineer – Electromechanical Actuation

Manassas, VA

About Electra

At Electra, we’re building the EL9 — a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off and lands in 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology unlocks thousands of new operating locations and enables what we call Direct Aviation: quiet, point-to-point regional travel that gets people from where they are to where they want to go, without the congestion of major airports or the noise of conventional aviation.

A global company, headquartered in Manassas, VA, Electra is backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and Safran, has filed for FAA Part 23 type certification, and carries 2,000+ intent to purchase from operators worldwide. We’re a team of ~100 people moving fast toward first EL9 test flights in 2027 and certification by late 2029 or 2030. Every hire matters at this stage — and this role is no exception.

The Role

As a Senior / Principal Engineer – Electromechanical Actuation, you will serve as the technical authority for our aircraft actuation systems, with primary responsibility for development of the actuation systems on the EL9 Ultra Short Aircraft.

You will define requirements, guide supplier development, and ensure delivered hardware meets Electra's performance, safety, and certification standards. You will play a critical role in ensuring actuation systems are fully integrated, validated, and compliant within a highly coupled hybrid-electric aircraft architecture.

This is a highly cross-functional and externally facing role, requiring strong technical judgment, supplier engagement, and systems thinking.

What You'll Do

  • Serve as the technical owner for electromechanical actuation systems, including supplier-developed hardware, across the full lifecycle from requirements through certification
  • Define actuator requirements, interfaces, and acceptance criteria, and ensure alignment with aircraft-level performance, safety, and integration needs
  • Provide technical oversight of suppliers, including design reviews, analysis/test evaluation, and issue resolution to ensure compliant, high-quality deliverables
  • Lead integration of actuation systems with flight controls, structures, and electrical systems, ensuring proper functionality, reliability, and maintainability
  • Support certification activities by developing compliance artifacts, contributing to safety assessments, and ensuring supplier deliverables meet regulatory expectations
  • Collaborate cross-functionally and support system- and aircraft-level verification, including ground and flight testing

What You'll Bring:

  • Bachelor's degree and 8+ years (Senior) or 10+ years (Principal) of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Strong understanding of electromechanical actuation systems and their application in aircraft or similar systems
  • Experience integrating complex subsystems into a larger platform, including interface definition and system-level considerations
  • Familiarity with systems engineering practices, including requirements development, validation, and traceability
  • Knowledge of certification processes (FAA Part 23/25 or equivalent) and safety-critical development practices (FHA, FMEA, FTA)
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work effectively across internal teams and external partners

Bonus Points

  • Experience overseeing suppliers in the development of aircraft actuation systems (e.g., primary/secondary flight controls)
  • Prior involvement in aircraft certification programs, including engagement with FAA or equivalent authorities
  • Familiarity with electric or hybrid-electric aircraft systems and power architectures
  • Experience with control system development, actuator modeling, or plant characterization and integration with flight control systems
  • Experience with fault-tolerant or redundant actuation architectures and safety-critical design considerations

Leveling Expectations

Final leveling (Senior or Principal) will be determined based on the candidate's experience, education, demonstrated skills, and degree of independence and autonomy appropriate for the role.

Both levels require a strong foundation in engineering principles and the ability to solve complex technical problems. Differentiation between levels is based on degree of ownership, autonomy, and influence.

Senior Engineer

  • Applies broad engineering knowledge to solve complex problems, working under limited direction
  • Independently develops approaches and executes within assigned scope (supplier oversight, integration, compliance)
  • Collaborates effectively and drives issue resolution with minimal guidance

Principal Engineer

  • Applies deep, broad expertise to solve complex, cross-cutting technical problems
  • Exercises significant autonomy in defining objectives, approaches, and technical direction
  • Serves as a technical authority, influencing decisions and owning outcomes across the actuation domain

This range reflects the anticipated hiring range across all eligible locations; actual compensation is determined based on your relevant experience, skills, and geographic location. Total compensation includes performance bonus and comprehensive benefits.

Compensation Range

$130,000 - $180,000 USD

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary and equity
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance; STD, LTD, and life insurance
  • Generous PTO, sick leave, and company holidays
  • Paid winter break
  • 401(k) with immediate vesting
  • Free catered lunches, coffee, snacks, and drinks at our Manassas headquarters
  • Free on-site parking

Electra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This position may be subject to ITAR requirements.

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