Chief Technology Officer -- Aerospace Engineering

Job Description

Job Description

Chief Technology Officer – Aerospace Engineering (Hybrid-Electric Aircraft)

Pay: Base salary up to $250,000, plus stock options
Location: Eagle Field Airport, Firebaugh, CA (Bay Area / Palo Alto presence preferred; candidates willing to relocate are welcome)
Schedule: Full-time, direct hire; on-site or hybrid with regular travel to Eagle Field (not primarily remote)

About the Opportunity

Our client, a California-based aerospace company, is building a hybrid-electric drive-and-fly vehicle and is hiring its top engineering leader. As Chief Technology Officer, you'll own the technical direction of the whole vehicle: aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, batteries, avionics, flight controls, autonomy, simulation, systems integration and engineering test.

Every engineering discipline reports to you through its lead, and you'll work side by side with company leadership and the Program Manager. This is a hands-on role at startup pace for an engineer who has taken aircraft from design through prototype integration and test, and who wants to build the team that takes a new kind of aircraft into the air.

What You'll Do

• Set the technical roadmap: Define the vehicle's technical direction with company leadership and align it with product priorities.
• Own cross-discipline decisions: Resolve technical trade-offs between disciplines and keep the vehicle architecture consistent.
• Build the engineering team: Mentor and grow the team, define roles and recruit the skills needed for upcoming program phases.
• Lead design reviews: Run architecture and major design reviews that balance performance, reliability and cost.
• Drive flight-test readiness: Partner with airworthiness and flight test on evidence-based readiness criteria and technical risk.
• Integrate autonomy and controls: Guide the integration of autonomy software, flight controls and physical systems with clear ownership of system behavior.
• Shape supplier strategy: Develop and communicate technical strategy with suppliers, partners and stakeholders.
• Put controls in place: Establish practical requirements and engineering-change controls, and work with the Program Manager on schedule, staffing and milestone recovery.
• Raise the engineering bar: Strengthen evaluation practices around quality, test coverage and compliance before major releases.

What You Bring (Requirements)

• Education: Bachelor's in aerospace or aeronautical engineering, or closely related engineering with substantial aircraft design and development experience.
• Engineering leadership: Multidisciplinary engineering leadership on a significant aircraft or aircraft-system program (ideally as chief engineer, vehicle lead or head of aircraft design), with roughly 15+ years of experience; exceptional candidates with fewer years will be considered.
• Delivered aircraft: A record of taking aircraft through design, prototype integration and test.
• Whole-vehicle judgment: Deep aerodynamics expertise and an understanding of how the whole aircraft works together, not only manufacturing, production setup or a single subsystem.
• Airworthiness knowledge: Working knowledge of airworthiness, development assurance and configuration control.
• Startup execution: Hands-on technical leadership at startup pace.
• Work authorization and location: U.S. work authorization without visa sponsorship, and willingness to work on-site or hybrid at Eagle Field / the Bay Area.

Nice to Have

• Chief engineer track record: Chief engineer of a whole eVTOL, VTOL or novel aircraft taken through flight test.
• Relevant technologies: VTOL, electric or hybrid propulsion, autonomy integration or aircraft certification experience.
• Advanced degree: A graduate degree in aerospace engineering.
• AI engineering tools: Hands-on use of AI engineering tools with measurable results.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary up to $250,000
• Stock options

Why Apply Through Total Aviation Staffing?

Total Aviation Staffing connects aviation and aerospace professionals with top opportunities across business and charter aviation, commercial aviation, MRO, aerospace and defense, and aviation technology. When you apply through us, you get:

• A specialist in your corner: Guidance from recruiters who focus only on aviation and aerospace.
• More than one door: Priority access to openings that may not be publicly advertised, even if this role isn't the perfect fit.
• Top employers: Introductions to leading companies in aviation and aerospace.

Ready to lead the engineering behind a new kind of aircraft? Apply today.

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We’ll help take your career forward by connecting you with the top aerospace and aviation companies across the U.S.

Whether you strive to be an a&p mechanic, an aircraft technician, a flight attendant, or work in aviation customer service, Total Aviation Staffing can enhance your open sky aviation careers so you can achieve your goals.

Not only will we help you extend your job search and find the right role for you, but we can help build your resume, help you apply to aviation job openings, and get you closer to landing your dream full-time job.

Company Description

We’ll help take your career forward by connecting you with the top aerospace and aviation companies across the U.S.\r\rWhether you strive to be an a&p mechanic, an aircraft technician, a flight attendant, or work in aviation customer service, Total Aviation Staffing can enhance your open sky aviation careers so you can achieve your goals.\r\rNot only will we help you extend your job search and find the right role for you, but we can help build your resume, help you apply to aviation job openings, and get you closer to landing your dream full-time job.