Electra.aero · 5 hours ago
Principal Flight Controls Engineer
Manassas, VA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$140K/yr - $190K/yr
10+ years expElectra.aero is pioneering sustainable aviation with its hybrid-electric Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing aircraft. The Principal Flight Controls Engineer will serve as a senior technical authority and flight controls certification expert, focusing on certification planning, system-level verification, and mentorship of engineers throughout the development process.
AerospaceAir TransportationElectric Vehicle
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
Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL) and Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL)
Ground and flight test
Partner with the Flight Controls IPT Lead to:
Support system architecture decisions
Assess certification impacts of design changes
Retire certification and verification risk
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
Qualification
Required
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
Preferred
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
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
STD
LTD
Life insurance
Generous PTO and sick leave
Company holidays
Paid winter break
401(k) plan with immediate vesting
Free catered lunches
Amazing coffee
Snacks
Drinks
Fruit
Free parking
Company
Electra.aero
Electra develops hybrid-electric aircraft for sustainable urban and regional air mobility.
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Electra.aero has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$115MKey Investors
Prysm CapitalStatkraft VenturesVirginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
2025-04-21Series B· $115M
2023-07-26Series Unknown
2023-06-01Grant
Leadership Team
Marc Ausman
VP, Sales & Support
Recent News
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