Deputy Chief Engineer — EL

Deputy Chief Engineer — EL9

At Electra, we're building the EL9 - a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off and lands in 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology unlocks thousands of new operating locations and enables what we call Direct Aviation: quiet, point-to-point regional travel that gets people from where they are to where they want to go, without the congestion of major airports or the noise of conventional aviation.

A global company headquartered in Manassas, VA, Electra is backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and Safran, has filed for FAA Part 23 type certification, and carries 2,000+ intent to purchase from operators worldwide. We're a team of ~100 people moving fast toward first EL9 test flights in 2027 and certification by late 2029 or 2030. Every hire matters at this stage - and this role is no exception.

As Deputy Chief Engineer, you'll be the senior technical integrator supporting the Chief Engineer across all aspects of the EL9 program. You'll carry responsibility for design maturity, requirements fidelity, cross-disciplinary integration, and program gate review readiness - keeping IPTs aligned and the technical program on track as we move toward certification.

This is a high-accountability role that touches every engineering function. You'll conduct independent technical reviews, drive issue resolution across discipline teams, and serve as a direct interface to the FAA on certification matters. You'll also help shape how we engage with our supplier base from a technical standpoint. If you're the kind of engineer who thrives as a technical anchor on a complex, clean-sheet program, this is the role.

• Provide day-to-day senior engineering oversight across Integrated Product Teams, ensuring alignment with program objectives and identifying integration risk early
• Evaluate system architectures and interfaces for completeness; recommend and drive corrective actions
• Conduct independent technical reviews of engineering artifacts and issue formal, actionable feedback
• Assist IPTs in identifying and resolving requirements gaps, ambiguities, and conflicts during design activities
• Collaborate with the Systems Engineering Manager to ensure sound requirements flowdown and traceability throughout the program
• Assess verification approaches for practicality and alignment with program objectives
• Guide IPTs in closing open trade studies, validating analyses, and confirming balanced decision-making across performance and lifecycle considerations
• Prepare teams for gate reviews - assessing artifact completeness, technical maturity, and providing recommendations to program leadership
• Identify cross-disciplinary technical disconnects and lead targeted problem-solving
• Track technical actions, risks, and decisions; maintain clear communication to the Chief Engineer and leadership
• Support the Certification Team in managing the technical interface with the FAA, including technical familiarization meetings, issue resolution, and formal reviews
• Participate in the development, review, and execution of certification artifacts (Means/Methods of Compliance, Functional Certification Plans, Test Plans/Reports)
• Ensure alignment between design intent, certification basis, means of compliance, and regulatory guidance material
• Support technical evaluations of suppliers and their ability to support the EL9 Type Certification project

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred
• 12+ years of aircraft development experience, including direct involvement in FAA certification programs
• Experience following formal development processes (e.g., ARP
  4754B) to ensure design and verification rigor
• Demonstrated ability to review complex designs and assess integration risks across multiple systems
• Experience conducting and reviewing trade studies and preparing teams for design reviews
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to deliver precise, constructive technical feedback
• US Person (Citizen or Permanent Resident) required

• Pilot certificate
• Experience with hybrid-electric or electric propulsion architectures
• Familiarity with development…