Senior / Principal Flight Physics Engineer

Senior / Principal Flight Physics Engineer

About Electra

At Electra, we're pioneering hybrid-electric Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing aircraft that redefine regional air mobility. Our technology enables operations from soccer-field-sized spaces, unlocking thousands of new locations and enabling what we call Direct Aviation: quiet, efficient, point-to-point travel closer to where people live and work.

Headquartered in Manassas, VA, with additional operations in Switzerland, Electra is backed by industry leaders and advancing toward certification. We're a growing team of innovators working at the forefront of sustainable aviation-every hire plays a critical role in shaping the future of flight.

The Role

As a Senior/Principal Flight Physics Engineer, you will lead the development, analysis, and validation of aerodynamic and flight physics models that support the design, performance, stability, control, and certification of Electra's hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft.

This role is highly multidisciplinary, requiring deep expertise in aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), aircraft performance, and flight vehicle dynamics. You will work closely with structures, controls, systems, propulsion, flight test, and certification teams to drive data-informed design decisions and mature the aircraft through development, testing, and certification.

The ideal candidate is a technically strong aerospace engineer who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment, is comfortable taking ownership of complex technical challenges, and enjoys collaborating across disciplines to develop innovative aircraft solutions.

What You'll Do

Analyze and synthesize aerodynamic data from flight testing, wind tunnel testing, CFD simulations, and analytical models to support aircraft design and performance evaluations

Lead or support the design and development of prototype systems, test articles, and validation efforts related to aircraft aerodynamics and flight physics

Perform end-to-end CFD analyses, including:

Geometry preparation

Mesh generation

Solver setup and execution

Solution convergence assessment

Post-processing and interpretation of results

Conduct sensitivity studies related to aircraft performance, stability, control, and aerodynamic characteristics

Develop, validate, and improve aerodynamic and performance prediction methods across all phases of flight

Present technical analyses and recommendations at gated program reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, and certification reviews

Develop program-level objectives, requirements, architectures, and interface definitions to support aircraft development activities

Support aircraft design trades by providing technical assessments of performance, aerodynamic efficiency, mass impact, risk, and certification considerations

Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams including structures, propulsion, controls, systems, and certification engineering

Develop automated analysis tools, workflows, and post-processing capabilities using Python or similar tools

Support correlation and validation of aerodynamic models against test data and flight test results

Create and maintain high-quality engineering documentation, reports, and technical presentations

What You'll Bring

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline

Experience in aerodynamics, CFD, flight sciences, aircraft performance, or related aerospace engineering disciplines

Demonstrated capability generating high-quality aerodynamic meshes in Pointwise for external aerodynamic analyses and complex aircraft configurations

Hands-on experience running and interpreting results from aerospace-focused CFD solvers such as Flow360, FUN3D, or comparable high-fidelity CFD tools

Strong Python programming skills for analysis, automation, workflow integration, and CFD post-processing

Experience using ParaView or similar visualization tools for aerodynamic flow field analysis

Strong understanding of:

Aerodynamics

Flight vehicle dynamics

Aircraft stability and control

Aircraft performance

Experience with lower-order aerodynamic analysis tools such as AVL, xRotor, or other VLM-based methods

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to multidisciplinary audiences

Experience working within collaborative aircraft development teams

Strong documentation, organization, and technical communication skills

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly integrated startup environment

Preferred Qualifications

Master's or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with emphasis in aerodynamics, CFD, flight physics, or flight sciences

Experience using Flow360 CFD for external aerodynamic simulations and validating results against experimental or flight test data

Advanced software development capabilities in Python (preferred) or MATLAB

Experience developing:

Automated post-processing workflows

Custom analysis tools

Engineering software pipelines

Experience supporting aircraft development programs from conceptual design through certification

Familiarity with aircraft systems and multidisciplinary aircraft design processes

Working knowledge of FAR Part 23 certification requirements

Experience supporting advanced air mobility, eSTOL, eVTOL, or hybrid-electric aircraft programs

U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder) preferred

Leveling Expectations

Level (Senior or Principal) will be determined based on the candidate's experience, technical depth, demonstrated leadership, and degree of influence across the organization.

Both levels require strong expertise in aerodynamics, flight physics, CFD analysis, and aircraft development. Differentiation between levels is based on technical leadership, strategic influence, ownership of critical programs, and ability to shape engineering direction.

Senior Flight Physics Engineer (8+ Years)

Demonstrates broad expertise in aerodynamics, CFD, aircraft performance, and flight vehicle dynamics

Independently executes complex analyses and develops solutions to challenging technical problems

Leads aerodynamic studies, CFD campaigns, and aircraft performance assessments

Supports major design reviews, certification activities, and multidisciplinary trade studies

Develops and validates analysis methodologies and engineering tools

Provides technical guidance to junior engineers and cross-functional teams

Drives issue resolution and technical decision-making with limited oversight

Contributes significantly to aircraft architecture and design decisions

Principal Flight Physics Engineer (10+ Years)

Recognized subject matter expert in aerodynamics, flight physics, and aircraft design

Establishes technical vision, methodologies, and best practices for aerodynamic and flight physics disciplines

Leads the most critical aircraft performance, stability, control, and aerodynamic development efforts

Serves as a key technical authority influencing aircraft architecture, certification strategy, and program direction

Develops novel analytical approaches and validation methods for advanced aircraft configurations

Mentors senior engineers and helps shape organizational technical capability

Directly influences program-level decisions through deep technical expertise and strategic insight

Represents Electra in discussions with regulators, external partners, suppliers, and industry stakeholders

Drives cross-functional alignment on highly complex technical challenges impacting aircraft performance and certification

Compensation:

$130,000 – $180,000 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