Control System Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Engineering Manager – Flight Control System

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

The Role

As the Engineering Manager – Flight Control System, you will serve as both the Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead and people manager responsible for development of the Flight Control System (FCS) for the EL9 Ultra Short aircraft.

You will inherit an established system architecture and initial requirements baseline and lead your team in finalizing preliminary design, driving detailed design execution, and maturing the system to a certifiable configuration.

This role requires deep expertise in systems engineering as well as strong leadership capabilities to build and scale a high-performing team. You will work cross-functionally across systems, avionics, actuation, propulsion, and flight test teams, and play a central role in bringing a novel aircraft configuration through certification.

What You'll Do

• Own the end-to-end Flight Control System development for the EL9 aircraft, from preliminary design through certification.
• Lead development and validation of system integration, ensuring alignment across actuation, avionics, propulsion, and structures.
• Define and execute the certification approach, including functional certification plans, safety assessments (FHA, FMEA, FTA), and compliance artifacts.
• Build and lead a high-performing flight controls team, providing technical direction while delivering on program cost, schedule, and milestones.
• Oversee system integration, verification, and flight test, ensuring the FCS meets performance, safety, and reliability targets at the aircraft level.

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive complex programs to execution.
• Familiarity with industry-standard aerospace development and certification practices (e.g., ARP4754A) applied to complex aircraft systems.
• Familiarity with integrated aircraft systems, including actuation, avionics, sensors, and propulsion interfaces.
• Prior involvement in aircraft certification programs, including direct engagement with FAA or equivalent authorities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to balance deep technical involvement with strategic leadership responsibilities.

Bonus Points

• Experience leading flight controls development for novel or highly integrated aircraft configurations (e.g., STOL, eVTOL, hybrid-electric aircraft).
• Experience integrating flight controls with electromechanical actuation systems and power architectures.
• Experience with redundant and fault-tolerant control system architectures.
• Background in supplier management for flight-critical systems.
• Experience building, scaling, and managing high-performing engineering teams, including hiring, mentoring, and driving technical excellence and accountability.

Compensation

$153,000 – $185,000 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