Senior / Principal Engineer – Electric Engine Lead

Electra; Manassas (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) match

Free catered lunches

On-site parking

Paid time off

Job summary

Electra in Manassas, VA, seeks a Senior/Principal Engineer – Electric Engine Lead to own electric engine development for the EL9, guiding supplier work and ensuring integration with propulsion, electrical systems and airframe.

The role demands deep propulsion knowledge, systems thinking, and experience with certification processes and supplier oversight in a cross-functional setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years (Senior) or 10+ years (Principal) experience.
• Strong understanding of electric propulsion systems and their application in aircraft.
• Experience integrating complex subsystems with interface definition.
• Familiarity with SAE ARP4754 and system engineering practices.
• Knowledge of FAA Part 23/25 or equivalent safety-critical development practices.
• Strong communication and collaboration across internal teams and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical owner for electric engine development across the full lifecycle.
• Refine engine requirements, interfaces, and acceptance criteria for aircraft integration.
• Provide technical oversight of suppliers including design reviews and testing.
• Lead integration of the electric engine with propeller, electrical systems, and airframe.
• Support certification by drafting specifications, test plans, and compliance artifacts.
• Collaborate cross-functionally and support system- and aircraft-level verification.

Skills

Electric propulsion

Systems engineering

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Certification knowledge

Interface definition

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Senior / Principal Engineer – Electric Engine Lead

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 – Electric Engine Lead, you will serve as the technical authority for development of the electric engine(s) on the EL9 Ultra Short Aircraft.

You will refine requirements, guide supplier development, serve as approval authority on supplier design reviews, develop and define interfaces internally and externally and ensure delivered hardware meets Electra's performance, safety, and certification standards. You will play a critical role in ensuring electric propulsion 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 electric engine development, including supplier-developed hardware, across the full lifecycle from requirements through certification
• Refine electric engine 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 the electric engine with the propeller, electrical systems, and airframe, ensuring proper functionality, reliability, and maintainability
• Support certification activities by authoring specifications, test plans, 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 electric propulsion systems (motors, inverters/power electronics, cooling) 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 per SAE ARP4754
• Knowledge of certification processes (FAA Part 23/25 or equivalent) and safety-critical development practices (FHA, FMEA, FTA) per SAE ARP4761
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work effectively across internal teams and external partners
• Experience managing suppliers to meet deliverables on-time with high quality in the face of multiple risks

Bonus Points

• Experience overseeing suppliers in the development of aircraft electric propulsion systems (motors, inverters, or integrated electric propulsion units)
• Prior involvement in aircraft certification programs, including engagement with FAA or equivalent authorities
• Familiarity with hybrid-electric aircraft systems and power architectures
• Experience with electric machine/motor control development, motor modeling, or plant characterization and integration with powertrain controls
• Experience with fault-tolerant or redundant propulsion architectures and safety-critical design considerations

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.

• 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 electric propulsion 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.

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 hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential 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.

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 measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis 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.