Principal Quality 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 ~125 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. The Role As our Principal Quality Engineer, Supplier QA Support, you'll hold dual responsibility within Electra's Quality organization: supporting our FAA Part 23 Type and Production Certification quality efforts, and leading supplier quality assurance across our procurement and manufacturing base. You'll represent Quality in meetings, on-site audits, and evaluations with Procurement, Suppliers, Manufacturing, Production, and Engineering - and you'll be a steady, professional presence for the department across every site and interaction. You'll support the build-out of a 14 CFR 21.137-compliant Quality Management System, including First Article Inspection, and help stand up the supplier quality infrastructure - audits, documentation review, and an Approved Supplier List - that Electra needs as we scale from Manassas, VA to our future manufacturing site in Springfield, OH. What You'll Do Uphold Electra's goals, objectives, and policies in a professional manner across all locations, and represent Electra and the Quality department positively in every interaction Support Quality's FAA Part 23 Type and Production Certification efforts at our Manassas, VA headquarters and future Springfield, OH manufacturing site, as needed Partner with Procurement, Supplier, Manufacturing, Production, and Engineering teams through meetings, on-site audits, and evaluations, providing feedback and periodic status reporting using Electra's standard reporting tools and methods Support development, documentation, implementation, and maintenance of a compliant 14 CFR 21.137 Quality Management System, including First Article Inspections (FAI), and help prevent non-conforming parts, articles, and defects while maintaining a safety- and quality-first presence at all times Support development, documentation, implementation, and maintenance of a compliant AS9100D / AS9102 quality system as company objectives require Provide strategic supplier quality support throughout the supplier selection process, including on-site audits, evaluation of supplier-provided documentation and certifications, and creation and management of an Approved Supplier List (ASL) per FAA Type and Production Certification requirements Support company, supplier, and FAA conformity inspections as needed Own predictive quality and rate-scaling efforts, applying Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) procedures and Six Sigma / Lean techniques to support Manufacturing and Production rate-increase milestones and objectives Provide other Quality support as needed What You Bring 10+ years of aerospace quality engineering, supplier quality, or airworthiness experience within an OEM or Tier 1/Tier 2 manufacturing environment Working knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21, including 21.137 Quality Management System requirements, and Part 23 Type and Production Certification processes Experience with First Article Inspection (AS9102) and conformity/inspection processes Supplier quality assurance experience, including on-site audits, supplier documentation evaluation, and Approved Supplier List (ASL) management Experience applying Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) and Six Sigma / Lean methodologies to support production rate scaling Willingness to travel to and support multiple sites, including Manassas, VA and Springfield, OH Strong cross-functional communication skills and comfort operating in a fast-paced, pre-production startup environment US Person (Citizen or Permanent Resident) required Bonus Points Experience implementing or maintaining an AS9100D-compliant quality system Direct experience with FAA delegated-authority functions (DAR, DMIR, or DER) Experience with novel Means of Compliance for Advanced Air Mobility or eVTOL programs Six Sigma / Lean Manufacturing certification Compensation $150,000 - $190,000 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 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr