Senior Maintainability Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Maintainability Engineer

About Electra

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 matter at this stage - and this role is no exception.

The Role:

The Senior Maintainability Engineer will play a key role in the design and development of the aircraft and its installed systems. As this is a Ultra Short Aircraft program, the position requires innovative approaches to reliability and maintainability to support the integration of both electric and conventional propulsion technologies.

This is a broad and senior technical role, encompassing design support, analysis, and compliance demonstration. The Senior R&M Engineer will provide specialized support to multidisciplinary engineering teams-including systems, structures, and customer support-to ensure that reliability, availability, and maintainability objectives are achieved up to and beyond Entry Into Service (EIS).

What You'll Do:

• R&M strategies - Establish and maintain Reliability and Maintainability processes aligned with program objectives and applicable industry standards.
• Schedule Reliability and Availability targets - Define, track, and report aircraft reliability and availability metrics to achieve performance goals for Entry Into Service (EIS) and beyond.
• Perform R&M analyses - Conduct and manage FMEA/FMECA, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Maintenance Task Analysis (MTA) to evaluate system reliability and maintenance characteristics.
• R&M documentation - Prepare and update R&M Plans, Procedures, and Reports in accordance with ARP4754A and MSG-3 methodologies.
• Define on-board maintenance capabilities - Lead the definition and validation of built-in test (BIT), fault detection, and fault isolation logic to enhance troubleshooting efficiency.
• Maintenance documentation - Support the creation of the Fault Isolation Manual (FIM) and related maintenance documentation such as AMM, CMM, and SRM.
• Aircraft Connectivity initiatives - Collaborate in the design of connectivity and data-management features that enable predictive maintenance and digital troubleshooting.
• Ground Operations and Customer Support - Ensure maintainability requirements are incorporated into aircraft design, support tools, and operational procedures.
• Coordinate R&M reviews and deliverables - Promote design reviews, validate assumptions, and support integration of R&M data into the Maintenance Planning Document (MPD) and Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR).
• Recommend design improvements - Analyze reliability data and maintenance findings to propose design changes that improve aircraft availability and reduce lifecycle costs
• Drive the Lessons Learned process - Capture and analyze in-service data to identify improvement opportunities and feed them back into future aircraft configurations.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering and 12+ years of experience in aerospace maintenance, support, or contract management (or an equivalent combination of education, skills, and experience).

• Industry Experience:
  • Experience with an advanced air mobility startup (e.g., Volocopter, Lilium) and an established aircraft OEM (e.g., Embraer, Airbus, Boeing) preferred.
• Maintenance & Support Expertise:
  • Experience in Reliability and Maintainability Engineering within the aerospace industry.
  • Strong understanding of aircraft maintenance programs, service-level agreements (SLAs), and vendor negotiations.
  • Experience defining and tracking Schedule Reliability and Availability KPIs for aircraft programs.
  • Knowledge of maintenance processes, ground operations, and in-service engineering support.
  • Experience supporting design reviews and maintenance program development.

• Technical Acumen:
  • Deep knowledge of aircraft maintenance, operations, and regulatory compliance.
  • Experience defining on-board maintenance systems, fault isolation logic, and connectivity-based diagnostic solutions.
  • Understanding of Aircraft Connectivity, health monitoring, and data-driven maintenance.
• Customer-Focused Mindset:
  • Proven ability to manage customer relationships and expectations effectively.
• Analytical & Communication Skills:
  • Strong problem-solving abilities and excellent written/verbal communication skills.

Travel: Occasional travel (<25%).

Onsite Presence: Expected onsite presence at our headquarters in Manassas, VA USA or Olten, Switzerland

Compensation

$139,000 – $168,000 annually. This range reflects the anticipated hiring range across all eligible locations; actual compensation is determined based on your relevant experience, skills, and geographic location. Total compensation includes performance bonus and comprehensive benefits.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and equity
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; STD, LTD, and life insurance
• Generous PTO, sick leave, and company holidays
• Paid winter break
• 401(k) with immediate vesting
• Free catered lunches, coffee, snacks, and drinks at our Manassas headquarters
• Free on-site parking

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.

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.

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.