Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Composite Structures
About The Position
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 our Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Composite Structures, you'll be at the center of building a clean-sheet Part 23 aircraft. Operating within our Integrated Product Development Team (IPDT), you'll own the manufacturing engineering interface with Tier 1 suppliers responsible for secondary composite structures - driving manufacturability, integration, and readiness for final aircraft assembly. This role directly shapes cost, schedule, quality, and risk outcomes on the EL9 program.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Materials Engineering, or a related field from an accredited institution.
- 8+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing or production engineering.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience with aircraft composite fabrication and/or assemblies.
- Strong cross-functional communication and collaboration skills - written and verbal.
- Proven ability to influence stakeholders and coordinate multidisciplinary teams, including suppliers.
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with secondary composite structures assembly in an aerospace development environment.
- Background supporting aircraft OEMs or Tier 1 structural suppliers in development and/or production programs.
- Working knowledge of CAD and PLM systems.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the manufacturing engineering focal point for composite fabrication and assembly throughout product development.
- Lead coordination with Tier 1 composite structure suppliers, ensuring alignment on requirements, schedule, cost, quality, and risk.
- Act as the primary liaison between suppliers and product engineering to ensure proper integration into final aircraft assembly.
- Define and implement manufacturing requirements for composite structures fabrication and assembly.
- Coordinate integration between structure suppliers and tooling/equipment suppliers to support aircraft assembly.
- Conduct trade studies and resolve complex technical challenges related to composite structure integration in a Part 23 aircraft.
- Support the development of a greenfield production system, including assembly flow, factory layout, and facility setup.
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
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
