Job Application for Senior Airspace Engineer at Electra

New

About Electra

Air travel is about to become something more: more direct, more accessible, and more connected to the places where people live, work and want to be. Every day in the U.S., people make 35 million trips of 50–500 miles, stuck in traffic or routed through crowded hubs. Chances are, you've been one of them. At Electra, we're changing that with the EL9, a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off and lands in just 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology opens up thousands of new places to fly, beyond conventional runways, congested airports and long drives. We're backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and Safran. Operators worldwide have signed intent-to-purchase agreements for the first 2,200 aircraft we produce, and we're moving toward first test flights in 2027.

Getting a new kind of aircraft airborne takes more than ambition. It takes our kind of bold: people who think big while working in the real world. Who move ideas into action and collaborate without silos. Who put people first and make room at the table for everyone. Who challenge one another without diminishing one another.

Sound like you? Then look beyond what you thought were your own limits, and help us take flight beyond runways.

The Role

Electra.aero is seeking an experienced Senior Airspace Engineer to develop the methods, operational concepts, procedures, airspace solutions, and policies needed to safely integrate Ultra Short operations into the national airspace system, including at major airports and novel, distributed access points.

The engineer will shape flight demonstrations, tabletop exercises, simulations, and data collection to inform Ultra Short policy, guidance, and standards development in the US and Europe. Collaboration with the FAA, NATCA, and industry standards development organizations is central to the role.

This role requires a deep understanding of how aircraft performance, flight operations, airspace design, VFR/IFR procedures, PBN, RNAV/RNP operations, obstacle evaluation, navigation systems, FAA/EASA regulations, and real-world operational constraints intersect. The successful candidate will translate new aircraft capabilities and operational concepts into safe, certifiable, and operationally useful flight-path infrastructure.

The ideal candidate understands airspace design and air traffic management concepts, tools, and workflows across congested terminal and en route airspace, and has led or contributed to research translating novel aircraft capabilities into operational procedures. They are comfortable working directly with the FAA, international civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers, airport authorities, and local stakeholders to advance integration projects. Firsthand experience in procedure design, airspace design, or air traffic control is valuable; working familiarity with the FAA’s 8260-series Orders is expected.

The engineer will collaborate with Electra and FAA teams through Electra’s Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the FAA Tech Center, the FAA eIPP program, the Virginia Smart Airspace Program, and the International Test Arena in Norway, as well as through company-led testing and procedure development.

What You’ll Do

Translate EL9 performance characteristics into Ultra Short operational capabilities, including ground footprint, obstacle clearance, and maneuvering.
Collaborate with aircraft performance engineers to model EL9 capabilities under normal, degraded, and contingency conditions, incorporating system safety analysis to define feasible Ultra Short procedures.
Develop candidate procedures for novel urban access points and existing airports, taking into account EL2/EL9 Ultra Short performance, instrument procedure design criteria, airport traffic flows, and the obstacle environment.
Review FAA, EASA, ICAO, and national standards—including fixed-wing, heliport, and vertiport frameworks, FAA 8260-series Orders, and international equivalents—to identify regulatory and policy gaps affecting proposed procedures.
Evaluate candidate procedures with Electra’s product team, the FAA, airport operations teams, and local air traffic control to prepare for flight demonstrations, tabletop exercises, simulations, and future policy and standards development.
Define learning objectives and data collection requirements for flight demonstrations and simulations to validate operational concepts.
Synthesize flight test results, lessons learned, and operational insights to inform regulatory workstreams developing Ultra Short policy and standards.
Support Electra’s commercial and infrastructure partnerships teams in assessing the feasibility of candidate access points in urban settings and at airports.
Develop thought leadership materials that clearly explain novel Ultra Short operational concepts to regulators, local stakeholders, and airport authorities.
Represent Electra in FAA, EASA, and ICAO working groups and industry standards development organizations to help shape standards, guidance, and policy for Ultra Short airspace integration and operations.

What you Bring

Master’s degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, aviation management, airport planning, or a related field.
5+ years of experience in airspace management research, policy and regulatory development, airspace or procedure design, or a related domain.
Strong working knowledge of FAA and/or EASA regulatory frameworks, including the AC 150 series, Part 135, Part 23, TERPS/PANS-OPS, 8260-series Orders, and relevant airport design standards.
Experience working with regulators, air navigation service providers, airport operators, and industry partners.
Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills.
Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment with evolving requirements and limited precedent.

Bonus Points

Experience leading or contributing to airspace integration research, including FAA, NASA, or MITRE airspace modernization initiatives.
Experience as an air traffic controller or with a non-FAA service provider specializing in instrument procedure design and development.
Private or commercial pilot experience.

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

$115,000 - $180,000 USD

What We Offer

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.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Electra? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

First Name

Last Name

Preferred First Name

Country

Phone

Location (City)

Resume/CV

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

LinkedIn Profile

Website

Please provide your current city and state.

This role requires on-site presence. Are you able to meet this requirement?

Select...

How did you initially hear about this job?

Select...

If you were referred by an Electra employee, please list their full name.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed by Electra for the purposes of managing and evaluating your candidacy in the recruitment process.

Select...

You further acknowledge and expressly consent that your personal data will be transferred to and stored in the United States, where the recruitment platform provider (Greenhouse) may process and host such data on behalf of Electra. You understand that Swiss data protection law requires an adequate level of data protection for such international transfers and that, at present, the adequacy of the data protection framework applicable to such transfers cannot be conclusively confirmed. In light of this, you expressly consent to the transfer, storage, and further processing of your personal data in the United States for the purposes described above. You may withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out prior to withdrawal.

Select...

Are you subject to any non-compete, non-solicitation, or confidentiality agreements with your current or former employers that would impact your employment at Electra?

Select...

What is your desired salary?

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Electra’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Gender

Select...

Are you Hispanic/Latino?

Select...

Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Veteran Status

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 07/31/2029

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury

Disability Status

Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Senior Airspace Engineer

Apply for this job

Voluntary Self-Identification

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability