Autonomy Chief Engineer

Electra•Manassas, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Autonomy Chief Engineer 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. A global company headquartered in Manassas, VA, with additional operations in Switzerland, Electra is backed by industry leaders and is advancing toward certification. We're a growing team of innovators working at the forefront of sustainable aviation-every hire plays a critical role in shaping the future of flight. The Role Electra is seeking a highly experienced Autonomy Chief Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of flight autonomy systems for future variants of our flagship nine-passenger EL9 aircraft and other next-generation products. This is a highly visible technical leadership role where you will act as the primary architect and integrator for autonomy systems, driving design maturity, defining requirements, engaging suppliers, and preparing the program for key gate and certification milestones. You'll partner closely with engineering, program leadership, and certification teams to bring advanced autonomy capabilities from concept through validation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience (advanced degree preferred)
US Persons required
Extensive experience (typically 12+ years) in flight autonomy or highly automated systems development
Proven ownership of complex autonomous system design and integration
Experience supporting or participating in government certification programs, including FAA and/or defense airworthiness processes
Strong background in formal development processes (e.g., ARP4754B)
Demonstrated technical leadership of engineering teams and supplier engagements, through direct management and/or senior technical direction
Experience conducting trade studies and preparing for design reviews
Excellent communication skills with the ability to deliver clear, actionable technical feedback

Nice To Haves

Pilot certificate
Experience with ground and flight test planning and execution
Demonstrated mentorship of senior engineers and Integrated Product Team (IPT) leads

Responsibilities

Define autonomy concept of operations, functional decomposition, and system architecture
Develop integration strategies aligned with existing EL9 aircraft design
Evaluate architectures and interfaces for completeness, performance, and integration risk
Partner with the EL9 PMO to conduct trade studies for autonomous capability enhancements
Lead development of autonomy system requirements across aircraft and supporting systems
Ensure high-quality requirements flowdown, traceability, and configuration control
Collaborate cross-functionally to validate requirements alignment with program goals
Assess verification strategies for feasibility and effectiveness
Evaluate supplier landscape across autonomy systems, infrastructure, and data
Lead supplier selection, engagement, and downselect activities
Manage technical relationships with external partners
Develop autonomy system development, integration, and test plans
Lead technical gate reviews as design matures
Support certification strategy development in partnership with Certification teams, including FAA and defense authorities
Provide technical recommendations and insights to program leadership