Vice President, Industrialization & Manufacturing Strategy

Head Of Industrialization & Manufacturing Strategy

Electra is building the EL9 Ultra Short - a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off and lands in 150 feet. By pairing blown-lift aerodynamics with distributed electric propulsion, the EL9 opens thousands of new access points - fields, parking lots, small airstrips - that conventional aviation can't touch. We call it Direct Aviation: getting people from where they are to where they want to go, without the airports, noise, or emissions.

We've filed for FAA Part 23 type certification, hold 2,200+ pre-orders, and are backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and Safran. Bristow Group has secured the first EL9 delivery slot. First EL9 test flights are planned for 2027, with certification targeted for late 2029 to 2030.

The Role

We're hiring a Head of Industrialization & Manufacturing Strategy to architect how Electra builds the EL9 at scale. This role sits at the intersection of design, operations, and capital strategy. The questions you'll answer are not "how do we build the next aircraft" but "what does the company need to look like to deliver hundreds of aircraft a year, and how do we get there from where we are today."

You'll own the make-or-buy strategy, support the site selection and site construction for EL9 rate production, design the manufacturing layout and the 3P process to get there, stand up the digital manufacturing backbone (ERP, MES, PLM), and build the labor training pipeline that will staff the factory. You'll partner closely with the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, the Supply Chain organization, Engineering, Finance, and the executive team - and you'll be one of the core voices defining what Electra's industrial future looks like.

What You'll Do

• Own the industrialization strategy and roadmap for the EL9, from first conforming articles through rate production
• Lead the make-or-buy strategy in partnership with Engineering and Supply Chain, defining what Electra builds in-house and what comes from the supplier base
• Support site selection for EL9 rate production, including site evaluation, financial modeling, incentive negotiation, and final recommendation to the executive team and board
• Direct site construction and facility build-out, partnering with external design and construction firms
• Design the manufacturing layout and lead the 3P (Production Preparation Process) to optimize flow, footprint, and capital efficiency
• Define and implement the digital manufacturing backbone - ERP, MES, and PLM - and ensure these systems support the production system rather than constrain it
• Build the labor training strategy and pipeline, including partnerships with technical schools, community colleges, and workforce development organizations
• Develop and own the multi-year industrialization CAPEX plan, working closely with Finance
• Partner with the Director of Manufacturing Engineering on production system implementation, ensuring strategic decisions translate cleanly into execution
• Hire and lead the industrialization team as the program scales

What You Bring

• 16 + years of manufacturing and industrialization experience in aerospace or another regulated, high-complexity manufacturing sector
• Demonstrated ownership of industrialization strategy for a new aircraft or comparable complex product - including make-or-buy, site selection, layout design, and production system stand-up
• Experience supporting site selection and facility construction at scale
• Strong working knowledge of 3P / Production Preparation Process methodology
• Deep familiarity with digital manufacturing systems (ERP, MES, PLM) and the tradeoffs involved in implementing them in a growth-stage company
• Track record managing CAPEX portfolios in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars
• Experience building and developing senior manufacturing leaders
• Comfort operating at both the strategy and execution layers - this role requires a leader who can present to the board on Monday and walk the floor on Tuesday
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience

Bonus Points

• Experience industrializing a clean-sheet aircraft program through Part 23 or Part 25 certification
• Hybrid-electric, electric, or other novel propulsion program experience
• Background in lean manufacturing, TPS, or Industry 4.0 implementation
• Experience standing up a greenfield manufacturing site
• MBA or equivalent business education
• Prior experience scaling a manufacturing organization from prototype through serial production

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and meaningful equity in a Series B aerospace company with strategic backing from Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and Safran
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; STD, LTD, and life insurance
• 401(k) with immediate vesting
• Generous PTO, company holidays, and a paid winter break
• Free catered lunches, coffee, and snacks at our Manassas headquarters
• The chance to architect the industrial future of an aircraft program that will change how people and goods move

Electra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This position may be subject to ITAR requirements.