Principal Flight Controls Engineer
About The Position
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 matter at this stage - and this role is no exception.
Requirements
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering or related STEM discipline.
- 10+ years of experience in flight controls or related aerospace systems development.
- Experience supporting aircraft certification and verification activities on safety-critical systems.
- Strong understanding of aircraft flight control systems and architectures.
- Demonstrated experience with certification planning and compliance for aerospace systems.
- Ability to operate as a technical authority and in-house subject-matter expert.
- Excellent communication skills, including authority-facing technical discussions.
- Experience with MATLAB / Simulink-based control development and verification environments.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively across IPTs and disciplines.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree preferred.
- Experience with fly-by-wire aircraft from development through certification.
- Experience with system-level verification and integration testing.
- Familiarity with eSTOL, powered-lift, or novel aircraft configurations.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), certification procedures, and industry standards.
- Prior experience acting as a certification focal or technical lead.
- US Person (Citizen or Green Card) preferred.
- Licensed Pilot preferred.
Responsibilities
- Act as the flight controls certification focal for the EL9 program, owning the functional certification approach.
- Lead development and maintenance of the flight controls functional certification plan.
- Translate regulatory requirements and system safety assessments into certifiable flight control functions.
- Provide technical oversight for verification planning and execution across: analysis and simulation, SIL/HIL, ground and flight test.
- Partner with the Flight Controls IPT Lead to support system architecture decisions and assess certification impacts of design changes.
- Support system safety activities, including FHA, PSSA, and SSA alignment.
- Interface with certification authorities and support technical discussions, reviews, and issue resolution.
- Mentor flight controls engineers in certification, verification, and systems thinking.
- Coordinate across disciplines including systems engineering, safety, software, propulsion, and flight test.
- Support certification closure and entry-into-service readiness.
Benefits
- 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
