Senior / Principal Flight Physics Engineer

Electra•Manassas, VA

7d•$130,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior/Principal Flight Physics Engineer, you will lead the development, analysis, and validation of aerodynamic and flight physics models that support the design, performance, stability, control, and certification of Electra's hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft. This role is highly multidisciplinary, requiring deep expertise in aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), aircraft performance, and flight vehicle dynamics. You will work closely with structures, controls, systems, propulsion, flight test, and certification teams to drive data-informed design decisions and mature the aircraft through development, testing, and certification. The ideal candidate is a technically strong aerospace engineer who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment, is comfortable taking ownership of complex technical challenges, and enjoys collaborating across disciplines to develop innovative aircraft solutions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
Experience in aerodynamics, CFD, flight sciences, aircraft performance, or related aerospace engineering disciplines
Demonstrated capability generating high-quality aerodynamic meshes in Pointwise for external aerodynamic analyses and complex aircraft configurations
Hands-on experience running and interpreting results from aerospace-focused CFD solvers such as Flow360, FUN3D, or comparable high-fidelity CFD tools
Strong Python programming skills for analysis, automation, workflow integration, and CFD post-processing
Experience using ParaView or similar visualization tools for aerodynamic flow field analysis
Strong understanding of: Aerodynamics, Flight vehicle dynamics, Aircraft stability and control, Aircraft performance
Experience with lower-order aerodynamic analysis tools such as AVL, xRotor, or other VLM-based methods
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to multidisciplinary audiences
Experience working within collaborative aircraft development teams
Strong documentation, organization, and technical communication skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly integrated startup environment

Nice To Haves

Master's or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with emphasis in aerodynamics, CFD, flight physics, or flight sciences
Experience using Flow360 CFD for external aerodynamic simulations and validating results against experimental or flight test data
Advanced software development capabilities in Python (preferred) or MATLAB
Experience developing: Automated post-processing workflows, Custom analysis tools, Engineering software pipelines
Experience supporting aircraft development programs from conceptual design through certification
Familiarity with aircraft systems and multidisciplinary aircraft design processes
Working knowledge of FAR Part 23 certification requirements
Experience supporting advanced air mobility, eSTOL, eVTOL, or hybrid-electric aircraft programs
U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder) preferred

Responsibilities

Analyze and synthesize aerodynamic data from flight testing, wind tunnel testing, CFD simulations, and analytical models to support aircraft design and performance evaluations
Lead or support the design and development of prototype systems, test articles, and validation efforts related to aircraft aerodynamics and flight physics
Perform end-to-end CFD analyses, including: Geometry preparation, Mesh generation, Solver setup and execution, Solution convergence assessment, Post-processing and interpretation of results
Conduct sensitivity studies related to aircraft performance, stability, control, and aerodynamic characteristics
Develop, validate, and improve aerodynamic and performance prediction methods across all phases of flight
Present technical analyses and recommendations at gated program reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, and certification reviews
Develop program-level objectives, requirements, architectures, and interface definitions to support aircraft development activities
Support aircraft design trades by providing technical assessments of performance, aerodynamic efficiency, mass impact, risk, and certification considerations
Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams including structures, propulsion, controls, systems, and certification engineering
Develop automated analysis tools, workflows, and post-processing capabilities using Python or similar tools
Support correlation and validation of aerodynamic models against test data and flight test results
Create and maintain high-quality engineering documentation, reports, and technical presentations