Systems Engineering Manager

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 Overview :

Electra is seeking a Systems Engineering Manager to oversee systems engineering processes at Electra. This role will support both direct program work and functional management, with a specific emphasis on systems engineering on Electra's EL9 Ultra Short aircraft. This is an incredible opportunity to make a direct impact on a cutting-edge development program.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions:

• Lead and manage the systems engineering development processes at Electra, from requirements gathering through design, implementation, testing and deployment.

• Manage the systems engineering team at Electra, providing technical direction, guidance and mentorship, leading hiring efforts, conducting performance reviews, and fostering a collaborative and productive team environment.

• Develop company- and program-level processes and documentation required to ensure systems are developed in compliance with aviation software standards, such as SAE ARP4754.

• Lead the implementation of system engineering processes across the EL9 program to ensure adherence to industry standards, internal procedures, and best practices.

• Support requirements management activities for the EL9 program, including but not limited to elicitation, definition, traceability, verification and validation.

• Support systems integration activities for the EL9 program, ensuring systems work together effectively across the aircraft.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, safety, testing, and regulatory compliance, to ensure successful implementation of systems and processes. Provide technical leadership and guidance on best practices for systems engineering.

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by providing feedback on process effectiveness, identifying gaps, and proposing improvements to the system engineering process and its execution.

• Providing subject matter expertise, technical review, and mentoring to a broad team of engineers.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline with at least 12 years of relevant experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience)

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Proven track record in leading systems engineering teams.

• Proven experience with safety-critical systems, risk analysis, and application of standards such as SAE ARP5754, ARP 4761, or DO-178C/DO-254.

• Experience with requirements management tools (e.g. JAMA) and system modeling tools (e.g. MATLAB, Simulink).

• Strong understanding of development assurance levels (DALs), safety assessments, and verification processes.

• Familiarity with certification processes and regulatory requirements for commercial aircraft (e.g., FAA, EASA).

• A strong work ethic and ability to independently execute the areas described by the responsibilities and essential functions.

• Strong project management skills and the ability to lead cross-functional teams in the development and certification of complex systems.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment.

• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• In-depth experience with certification of complex systems for a civil certified aircraft program.

• Experience across the full life-cycle development of aircraft systems, from initial design and analysis to testing, certification, and operational monitoring.

• Experience working on fly-by-wire and/or electric propulsion aircraft systems.

• Licensed private pilot.

Location:

• Headquarters in Manassas, VA.  To encourage close collaboration, this position is strongly preferred to be on-site.

Salary:

Electra's overall salary range for this level is: $180,000.00-$220,000.00
Our salary ranges reflect the minimum and maximum range for the Company level overall across all locations & projects and does not necessarily reflect the budgeted amount for this position. Individual pay is based on additional factors, including project budgets, job-related skills, experience, relevant education and/or training, role, level, location, and project.