Flight Controls Engineer

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At Electra, we’re pioneering sustainable aviation by developing hybrid‑electric Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing aircraft designed to transform regional air mobility by making air travel more efficient, quieter, and environmentally friendly. Able to operate from soccer field‑sized spaces, our Ultra Short unlocks a new era of aviation through what we call Direct Aviation – the next level of connectivity bringing air travel closer to where we live, work, and play.

Headquartered in Northern Virginia, with additional locations in Switzerland, we’re building a diverse team of global professionals passionate about redefining the future of aviation.

Electra.aero, a next‑gen aerospace technology company, seeks a motivated and capable Flight Controls Engineer
. In this role, you will support the development of the Fly‑by‑Wire (FBW) flight control system on our hybrid‑electric eSTOL aircraft and additional projects. This position offers a hands‑on opportunity to contribute directly to a cutting‑edge aircraft development program while working closely with senior engineers and multidisciplinary teams. This position will be based in Manassas, Virginia.

• Support the engineering development of the FBW flight control system, including system architecture, hardware integration, software implementation, and control law development.
• Assist in building simulation models and test environments for control algorithm development and verification.
• Contribute to drafting and refining subsystem and component requirements to meet safety, performance, and program objectives.
• Participate in managing functional and physical interfaces between the flight control system and the vehicle.
• Support verification and validation activities, including analysis, simulation, and bench testing.
• Collaborate with suppliers, partners, and internal engineering teams to maintain alignment across program milestones.
• Help prepare documentation and processes in support of aircraft certification activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering or related STEM discipline.
• 0‑2 years of relevant engineering experience (internships, co‑ops, or project team experience acceptable).

• Foundational understanding of aircraft flight control systems or control theory.
• Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced development environment.
• Strong organization, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Demonstrated initiative and willingness to learn complex systems.

• Experience with flight controls, avionics, or aircraft systems through internships, academic projects, or research.
• Hands‑on experience developing simulation or test environments (SIL/HIL) is a plus.
• Exposure to safety‑critical system development or model‑based design.
• Familiarity with Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) or relevant industry standards.
• US Person (Citizen or Green Card) preferred.
• Pilot experience or interest in aviation is a plus.

Not specified.

Electra's salary range for this position is: $80,000.00‑$85,000.00 (Recommend filling in based on internal junior‑level salary bands.)
Our salary ranges reflect the minimum and maximum range for the Company level overall across all locations & projects and do not necessarily reflect the budgeted amount for this position. Individual pay is based on additional factors, including project budgets, job‑related skills, experience, relevant education and/or training, role, level, location, and project.

• Entry level

• Full‑time

• Engineering and Information Technology
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing

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