Senior / Principal Engineer – Electromechanical Actuation

Electra•Manassas, VA

1d•$130,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

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. 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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