Chief Technology Officer – Aerospace Engineering

Total Aviation Staffing, LLC; Firebaugh (CA); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Total Aviation Staffing, LLC is seeking a Chief Technology Officer to lead the aerospace engineering program for a hybrid-electric aircraft. You will own the technical direction, oversee aerodynamics, propulsion, batteries, avionics, and systems integration, and work closely with leadership in a fast-paced startup setting.

The role requires deep aerospace leadership, architecture expertise, and hands-on collaboration across disciplines, with on-site or hybrid work and travel to Eagle Field in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in aerospace or related engineering with substantial aircraft design experience.
• 15+ years in aerospace leadership on large aircraft programs.
• Proven track record delivering design, prototype integration and testing.
• Strong aerodynamics expertise and whole-vehicle integration judgment.

Responsibilities

• Set the vehicle's technical roadmap with leadership and product priorities.
• Own cross-discipline technical decisions and maintain architecture.
• Build, mentor and recruit the engineering team for upcoming phases.
• Lead architecture reviews balancing performance, reliability and cost.
• Partner with airworthiness and flight test for readiness and risk.
• Guide integration of autonomy software, flight controls and systems.
• Shape supplier and partner technical strategy.
• Coordinate with Program Manager on schedule and staffing.

Skills

Aerospace leadership

Systems architecture

Cross-functional leadership

Flight test experience

Education

Bachelor's in aerospace engineering

Tools

Autonomy software tools

Simulation tools

Job description

Chief Technology Officer – Aerospace Engineering (Hybrid-Electric Aircraft)

Up to $250,000 base + stock options | Firebaugh, CA (Eagle Field Airport), Bay Area/Palo Alto presence preferred | Full-time, on-site or hybrid with travel to Eagle Field

About the opportunity

Our client is building a hybrid-electric drive-and-fly vehicle and needs its top engineering leader. As CTO, you'll own the technical direction of the whole vehicle: aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, batteries, avionics, flight controls, autonomy, simulation, systems integration and engineering test. You'll be hands-on, working at startup pace alongside company leadership, with every engineering discipline reporting to you through its lead.

What you'll do

• Set the vehicle's technical roadmap with leadership and align it with product priorities


• Own and resolve cross-discipline technical decisions and keep the vehicle architecture consistent


• Build, mentor and grow the engineering team, and recruit for upcoming program phases


• Lead architecture and major design reviews, balancing performance, reliability and cost


• Partner with airworthiness and flight test on evidence-based readiness and technical risk


• Guide the integration of autonomy software, flight controls and physical systems


• Shape supplier and partner technical strategy


• Put practical requirements and engineering-change controls in place, and work with the Program Manager on schedule and staffing

What you bring

• Bachelor's in aerospace or aeronautical engineering, or closely related engineering with substantial aircraft design and development experience


• Multidisciplinary engineering leadership on a significant aircraft or aircraft-system program, with roughly 15+ years in aerospace (exceptional candidates with fewer years will be considered)


• A record of taking aircraft or aircraft systems through design, prototype integration and test


• Deep aerodynamics expertise and strong whole-vehicle integration judgment


• Working knowledge of airworthiness, development assurance and configuration control


• U.S. work authorization (no visa sponsorship)

Nice to have

• Experience as a CTO, chief engineer, vehicle lead or head of aircraft design


• VTOL, electric or hybrid propulsion, autonomy integration or aircraft certification experience


• Hands-on use of AI engineering tools with measurable results

Compensation and arrangement

• Base salary up to $250,000, plus stock options


• Primary site is Eagle Field Airport in Firebaugh, CA, with a Bay Area presence preferred. Local, on-site or hybrid work with regular travel to Eagle Field. This role is not primarily remote.


• Candidates willing to relocate are welcome