Deputy Chief Engineer

Deputy Chief Engineer

Electra is building the future of sustainable aviation through cutting-edge hybrid-electric aircraft designed for safe, quiet, efficient regional mobility. We are a mission-driven aerospace team developing breakthrough technology that unlocks new transportation possibilities while reducing environmental impact. Join us at a pivotal moment in our growth as we scale from development to certification and production.

Position Summary

Electra seeks a highly experienced Deputy Chief Engineer to support the Chief Engineer in overseeing the technical execution on Electra's flagship nine-passenger EL9 aircraft. This role will serve as a senior technical integrator, with primary emphasis on design maturity, requirements fidelity, cross-disciplinary integration, and readiness for program gate reviews.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Integration and Design Maturity

• Provide day-to-day senior engineering oversight across Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to ensure alignment with program objectives.
• Evaluate system architectures and interfaces for completeness and integration risk, and recommend corrective actions.
• Conduct independent technical reviews of engineering artifacts and issue formal, actionable feedback.

Requirements Quality and Traceability Support

• 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.
• Assess verification approaches to confirm practicality and alignment with program objectives.

Trade Studies and Decision Rigor

• Guide IPTs in closing open trade studies, validating analyses, and confirming balanced decision-making across performance and lifecycle considerations.
• Ensure trade study rationale and outcomes are fully documented for internal and external review.

Gate Review Readiness

• Prepare teams for gate reviews by assessing artifact completeness, technical maturity, and providing feedback.
• Lead or participate in readiness assessments and provide recommendations to program leadership.

Issue Identification and Resolution

• Identify cross-disciplinary technical disconnects and lead targeted problem-solving.
• Track technical actions, risks, and decisions; communicate status to the Chief Engineer and leadership.

Certification, FAA Engagement and Supplier Evaluation

• 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 (e.g., Means / Methods of Compliance, Functional Certification Plans, Test Plans / Reports).
• Ensure alignment between design intent, certification basis, means of compliance, and regulatory guidance material.
• Provide senior technical judgment on certification risks, and tradeoffs impacting schedule, cost, and technical maturity.
• Ensure engineering decisions and trade studies are documented with sufficient rigor to support findings of compliance.
• Support technical evaluations of suppliers, ensuring their ability to support the EL9 Type Certification project.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or 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. ARP4754B) to ensure design and verification rigor.
• Demonstrated capability 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 ability to deliver precise and constructive technical feedback.

Preferred Qualifications

• Pilot certificate preferred but not required.
• Experience with hybrid-electric or electric propulsion architectures.
• Familiarity with development and test planning for ground and flight activities.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading certification activities, including means of compliance development, FAA interaction, and regulatory issue resolution.
• Demonstrated mentorship of senior engineers and IPT leads.

Location, Work Model, and Travel

Location: Manassas, Virginia. On-site presence is required to support close collaboration on a complex hardware program. Travel: Up to 25% for supplier engagement, integration activities, and reviews.

Commitment

We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those from marginalized or underrepresented groups in the tech industry and aerospace, to apply for our job openings. We firmly believe that a diverse range of perspectives can profoundly influence both our product and our company culture.

Electra is committed to a work environment that is inclusive to all and free of discrimination. It is our policy to be an equal opportunity employer without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other factors prohibited by law. Electra will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals.

Electra is an E-Verify employer.

Compensation and Benefits

In addition to offering an exciting work environment and the opportunity to be part of the team making Ultra Short flight a reality, at Electra, we offer an unparalleled total rewards package. Electra offers employees a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, and life insurance, generous PTO and sick leave, company holidays, paid winter break, and a 401(k) plan with immediate vesting. Life at Electra includes a variety of perks, such as free catered lunches, amazing coffee, snacks, drinks, fruit, free parking, and opportunities for much more.

Working Conditions

Work is typically performed in a warehouse/aviation and office environment, which requires proper safety precautions. Work may require some physical effort in handling light materials, boxes, power tools, prototypes, and different materials or equipment. Due to the nature of our business and projects, some fieldwork may be required, working in both indoor and outdoor conditions. You may need to lift up to 50 lbs.

Background & Drug Screening

Successful completion of a background check and/or drug screening prior to starting work may be required for this position.