Senior / Principal Flight Physics Engineer
About The Position
About Electra At Electra, we're pioneering hybrid-electric Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing aircraft that redefine regional air mobility. Our technology enables operations from soccer-field-sized spaces, unlocking thousands of new locations and enabling what we call Direct Aviation: quiet, efficient, point-to-point travel closer to where people live and work. Headquartered in Manassas, VA, with additional operations in Switzerland, Electra is backed by industry leaders and 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. The Role 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
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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
