Senior / Principal Engineer – Electromechanical Actuation

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous PTO and company holidays

401(k) with immediate vesting

Free catered lunches and snacks

Job summary

Electra.aero in Manassas, Virginia, is seeking a Senior/Principal Engineer for Electromechanical Actuation. This role involves leading the technical development of actuation systems for our innovative hybrid-electric aircraft. You will oversee supplier deliverables, define critical requirements, and ensure compliance with safety and certification standards.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in electromechanical systems, significant experience in aircraft systems integration, and knowledge of FAA certification processes. Competitive salary, equity, and excellent benefits offered.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience for Senior role and 10+ years for Principal role.
• Strong understanding of aircraft actuation systems.
• Experience with FAA certification processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical owner for electromechanical actuation systems.
• Define actuator requirements, interfaces, and acceptance criteria.
• Provide technical oversight of suppliers and lead integration activities.

Skills

Electromechanical actuation systems

Systems engineering practices

Integration of complex subsystems

Strong communication and collaboration skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About Electra

At Electra, we're building hybrid-electric Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing aircraft that redefine regional air travel. Our technology enables aircraft to take off and land in soccer field-sized spaces, unlocking thousands of new operating locations and enabling what we call Direct Aviation: quiet, efficient, point‑to‑point travel closer to where people live and work.

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

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

• 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.

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

Location & Travel

• Location: Manassas, VA (on‑site strongly preferred to support collaboration; highly qualified remote candidates will be considered)
• Travel: Up to 25%

Compensation

$130,000 – $180,000 annually. 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.

Working Conditions

Work is typically performed in a warehouse/aviation and office environment, which requires proper safety precautions. Work may require physical effort in handling light materials, boxes, power tools, prototypes, and different materials or equipment. Some fieldwork may be required, working both indoor and outdoor conditions. You may need to lift up to 50 lbs.

Background & Drug Screening

Successful completion of a background check and/or drug screening prior to starting work may be required for this position.

Commitment

We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those from marginalized or underrepresented groups in the tech industry and aerospace, to apply for our job openings. We firmly believe that a diverse range of perspectives can profoundly influence both our product and our company culture.

Electra is committed to a work environment that is inclusive to all and free of discrimination. It is our policy to be an equal opportunity employer without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other factors prohibited by law. Electra will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals. Electra is an E‑Verify employer.