About Electra:

At Electra, we're pioneering sustainable aviation by developing hybrid-electric Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing aircraft designed to transform regional air mobility, by making air travel more efficient, quieter, and environmentally friendly. Able to operate from soccer field-sized spaces, our Ultra Short unlocks a new era of aviation through what we call Direct Aviation - the next level of connectivity bringing air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. Headquartered in Northern Virginia, with additional locations in Switzerland, we're building a diverse team of global professionals passionate about redefining the future of aviation.

Position Summary:

Electra.aero is seeking an experienced aviation leader to define the regulatory, infrastructural, and operational foundations required to safely integrate Ultra Short operations into major airports and distributed access points. This role requires a deep understanding of the intersection of aircraft performance, infrastructure design, IFR procedures, FAA/EASA regulations, and real-world operational constraints. The Director will develop a coherent system-level approach that enables the EL9 to operate safely and reliably in ways that unlock its full value proposition.

This work spans first-principles engineering analysis, regulatory interpretation, stakeholder alignment, and demonstration activities. The ideal candidate can translate novel aircraft capabilities into clear infrastructure requirements and operational procedures, engage credibly with regulators, and support multidisciplinary operations and partnership efforts with airport planning, airplane performance planning, and applied research inputs.

The Big Picture:

Integrator & Innovator. You will bridge aircraft engineering and airport/airline operations-translating EL9 performance into infrastructure and operational requirements for Ultra Short operations at airports and novel Ultra Short Access Points.

Regulatory Changemaker. You will help create the world's first standards for Ultra Short access points, blending lessons from fixed-wing, helicopter, and vertiport guidance while shaping entirely new FAA/EASA/ICAO frameworks.

Operational Enabler. Your work will directly support Electra's commercial flight testing and rollout by enabling siting, sizing, and regulatory acceptance of Ultra Short infrastructure in priority markets and undergirding Electra partnership efforts with infrastructure developers.

Key Responsibilities and Experience:

Aircraft Performance & Safety Integration

• Work closely with aircraft performance engineers to model EL9 capability across normal, degraded, and contingency cases.
• Incorporate system safety analysis and probability-of-failure considerations into infrastructure sizing requirements and operational envelopes.
• Derive minimum viable Ultra Short access point (USAP) requirements that balance safety, operability, and airport integration, and tiered levels of operational guidance.

Standards & Regulatory Engagement

• Analyze existing FAA, EASA, ICAO, and national standards-including fixed-wing, heliport, and vertiport frameworks-to identify applicability and limitations for Ultra Short operations.
• Lead development of new standards and guidance material specific to Ultra Short Access Points and off-runway airport operations.
• Represent Electra in engagements with FAA, EASA, ICAO, and industry working groups to shape USAP standards, guidance and policy.

Demonstration Programs & Applied Research

• Structure applied research and demonstration programs with regulators, ANSPs, airports, and research institutions to test Ultra Short operational concepts and gather data.
• Lead writing and technical authorship of proposals for regulatory research programs

• Develop data collection plans, safety assessments, and reporting frameworks that feed directly into standard-setting and regulatory evolution.
• Translate demo outcomes into clear recommendations for design, operations, and policy.

Support Infrastructure Partner & Commercial Demonstration Efforts

• Support Electra's commercial and infrastructure partnerships teams in evaluating candidate sites and determining feasibility, siting, and sizing of Ultra Short Access Points.
• Provide technical and regulatory subject matter expertise in engagements with airports, infrastructure developers, and local authorities.
• Develop site-specific operational concepts and safety assessments to support commercial proposals and demonstration operations.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, aviation management, airport planning, or related field
• 10+ years in aviation operations, airport planning, aviation policy and regulatory development, airspace/procedure design, or similar domain.
• Strong working knowledge of FAA and/or EASA regulatory frameworks (AC 150 series, heliport criteria, Part 135, Part 23, TERPS/PANS-OPS, and relevant airport design standards)
• Prior experience leading or contributing to regulatory research proposals (e.g., FAA research programs, EU or Nordic testbeds, NASA, SESAR) a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with regulators, airport operators, and industry partners.
• Technical writing skills with a track record of producing regulatory-grade reports, proposals, or standards documentation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across technical, regulatory, and commercial audiences.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment with evolving requirements and limited precedent.

Desired Education and Experience:

• Masters or PHD in aerospace engineering, aviation management, airport planning, or related field.
• Previously serving as an airline director of operations, an airport director, or an airport operations manager is a strong plus.

Location:

Manassas, VA. To encourage close collaboration on a complex program, this position requires daily onsite office hours.

Travel:

~25%, Domestic & International Travel