Job Application for Staff / Senior Systems Safety Engineer at Electra

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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 Staff or Senior Systems Safety Engineer, you will support the system safety and reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) engineering efforts for Electra's flagship hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft. You will drive functional hazard assessment, safety analysis, and RAM substantiation across the aircraft's electrical, mechanical, hybrid-propulsion, and avionics systems, ensuring compliance with FAA Part 23 certification requirements and industry safety standards.

You will work closely with systems engineering, avionics, propulsion, structures, software, and certification teams to identify hazards, allocate safety requirements, and demonstrate that the aircraft design meets its safety and reliability targets throughout development and into production.

What You'll Do

Lead functional hazard assessment (FHA), preliminary system safety assessment (PSSA), and system safety assessment (SSA) activities across aircraft systems
Develop and maintain fault tree analyses (FTA), failure modes and effects analyses (FMEA/FMECA), and common cause analyses (CCA/ZSA/PRA)
Own reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) analysis, including reliability prediction, block diagrams, spares/maintainability modeling, and MTBF/MTTF substantiation
Allocate safety and reliability requirements to systems, subsystems, and components, and verify closure through analysis and test
Develop safety and RAM analysis plans supporting FAA Part 23 type certification, per ARP4754B, ARP4761A, and related guidance
Support development assurance level (DAL) determination for hardware and software items in coordination with systems and software engineering
Partner with reliability, maintenance, and supportability stakeholders to define maintenance intervals and inspection/replacement strategies
Prepare safety substantiation reports, certification safety assessments, and RAM reports for internal reviews and submission to the FAA
Present safety and reliability analyses and recommendations during internal and external design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TCB)
Support test planning and review for safety- and reliability-related verification activities (e.g., failure injection, environmental, endurance testing)
Track open safety issues, hazard logs, and risk mitigations through closure
Contribute to the establishment of system safety and RAM processes, tools, and design standards across the organization
Support supplier technical reviews, evaluating supplier safety and reliability data and analyses

What You'll Bring

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Systems, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
Experience in system safety engineering supporting aircraft or complex system development programs
Strong knowledge of safety analysis methods: FHA, PSSA, SSA, FTA, FMEA/FMECA, CCA
Working knowledge of reliability engineering methods: reliability prediction, RAM modeling, MTBF/MTTF, maintainability analysis
Experience supporting FAA Part 23 and/or Part 25 certification programs
Familiarity with ARP4754B, ARP4761A, and related safety/certification guidance
Strong understanding of system architectures, redundancy concepts, and failure propagation across electrical, mechanical, and software systems
Experience developing safety substantiation and RAM reports for certification submittal
Strong technical writing and communication skills
Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in Aerospace, Systems, or related engineering discipline
Experience supporting aircraft programs from conceptual design through certification and production
Experience with hybrid-electric, eSTOL, eVTOL, or advanced air mobility aircraft programs
Experience with reliability/safety analysis tools (e.g., Windchill Quality Solutions/Relex, RAM Commander, isograph)
Experience working directly with regulatory authorities (FAA) during certification efforts
Experience mentoring engineers and reviewing safety/reliability analyses
U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder) preferred

Location & Travel

Location: Manassas, VA Headquarters. This position requires regular onsite presence to support collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, and test teams.

Travel: Minimal

Leveling Expectations

Level (Staff or Senior) will be determined based on the candidate's experience, technical expertise, demonstrated leadership, and ability to influence aircraft development decisions.

Both levels require expertise in system safety analysis, RAM engineering, and aircraft development. Differentiation is based on technical leadership, scope of responsibility, independence, and organizational influence.

Staff Systems Safety Engineer (8+ Years)

Demonstrates expertise in system safety analysis and RAM engineering
Independently performs FHA, PSSA, SSA, FTA, and FMEA/FMECA analyses
Supports safety and RAM substantiation packages for FAA certification activities
Collaborates effectively across systems, avionics, propulsion, software, and certification organizations
Supports safety-related testing, correlation activities, and certification efforts
Drives resolution of complex safety and reliability challenges with support

Senior Systems Safety Engineer (8+ Years)

Demonstrates strong expertise in system safety analysis and RAM engineering
Independently performs FHA, PSSA, SSA, FTA, and FMEA/FMECA analyses
Develops safety and RAM substantiation packages for FAA certification activities
Collaborates effectively across systems, avionics, propulsion, software, and certification organizations
Supports safety-related testing, correlation activities, and certification efforts
Mentors engineers across the organization and elevates overall technical capability
Provides technical guidance within assigned programs and workstreams
Drives resolution of complex safety and reliability challenges with minimal supervision

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

$110,000 - $160,000 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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Staff / Senior Systems Safety Engineer

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