Principal Electrical Engineer

Electra Aero • Manassas, VA

17d • Onsite

About The Position

At Electra, we're pioneering sustainable aviation by developing hybrid-electric Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing aircraft designed to transform regional air mobility, by making air travel more efficient, quieter, and environmentally friendly. Able to operate from soccer field-sized spaces, our Ultra Short unlocks a new era of aviation through what we call Direct Aviation - the next level of connectivity bringing air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. Headquartered in Northern Virginia, with additional locations in Switzerland, we're building a diverse team of global professionals passionate about redefining the future of aviation. Position Overview: Electra is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to lead the development, integration, and optimization of electrical power systems on Electra's flagship nine- passenger EL9 aircraft . This role will be responsible for the aircraft electrical system s - including power distribution, energy storage, conversion, and system safety protection s - ensuring reliable, certifiable, and high-performance operation across the full aircraft lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, Electrical Engineering or other related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 10 + years of experience in aircraft electrical systems design, integration, and certification , or an equivalent combination of education, skills, and experience .
• Strong understanding of aircraft electrical power systems (preferably 28Vdc).
• Demonstrated ability to perform electrical load analysis, wire harness design, and system integration.
• Proficiency with electrical modeling and simulation tools .
• Familiarity with EWIS requirements, EMI/EMC testing, and environmental qualification.
• Proficiency with industry standards and processes relevant to the development of aircraft electrical systems , including DO-254 or DO-178C processes for complex hardware/software systems.
• Proficiency with electrical CAD tools (preferably Mentor Capital).
• Experience producing system-level documentation, including system description documents, design review presentations, analysis reports, test plans and reports, and certification deliverables.
• Strong collaboration skills with cross- discipline teams and experience leading technical reviews.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with a track record of influencing stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading the development of electrical systems for FAA Part 23 aircraft .
• Hands-on e xperience with commercial certification process es (preferably FAA Part 23) .
• Experience with hybrid-electric propulsion or advanced electrical architectures .
• Experience managing supplier development activities .
• Familiarity with redundant power systems, fail-safe designs, and fault detection/isolation techniques.
• Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., JAMA) and/or system modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink).
• Private pilot license a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design the aircraft's electrical systems , including generation, conversion, distribution, and energy storage.
• Develop and maintain aircraft power budgets, assess load cases, and perform trade studies to optimize system efficiency and reliability.
• Define and enforce system-level electrical and power interface requirements, including grounding strategies, EMI/EMC protection, and safety features.
• Collaborate closely with propulsion, avionics, flight controls, and structural teams to ensure electrical system compatibility and safe integration.
• Develop and execute test plans for electrical systems, including validation , HIL setups, bench, and lab testing.
• Evaluate and qualify suppliers, components, and subsystems, ensuring compliance standards and reliability requirements are met .
• Generate and maintain system documentation including schematics, wiring diagrams, Interface Control Document ( ICD ' s ) , and certification deliverables.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to junior engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and rigor.
• Contribute to process development and continuous improvement initiatives in electrical systems engineering.
• Stay current with evolving hybrid-electric aircraft technologies, FAA regulations, safety , and certification standards.

Benefits

• Electra offers employees a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, and life insurance, generous PTO and sick leave, company holidays, paid winter break, and a 401(k) plan with immediate vesting.
• Life at Electra includes a variety of perks, such as free catered lunches, amazing coffee, snacks, drinks, fruit, free parking, and opportunities for much more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level