Flight Physics Engineer

Employer description

About Electra

Air travel is about to become something more: more direct, more accessible, and more connected to the places where people live, work and want to be. Every day in the U.S., people make 35 million trips of 50–500 miles, stuck in traffic or routed through crowded hubs. Chances are, you've been one of them. At Electra, we're changing that with the EL9, a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off and lands in just 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology opens up thousands of new places to fly, beyond conventional runways, congested airports and long drives. We're backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and Safran. Operators worldwide have signed intent-to-purchase agreements for the first 2,200 aircraft we produce, and we're moving toward first test flights in 2027.

Getting a new kind of aircraft airborne takes more than ambition. It takes our kind of bold: people who think big while working in the real world. Who move ideas into action and collaborate without silos. Who put people first and make room at the table for everyone. Who challenge one another without diminishing one another.

Sound like you? Then look beyond what you thought were your own limits, and help us take flight beyond runways.

The Role

Electra is actively recruiting an Intermediate Flight Physics Engineer to assist with the design, development, and testing of our hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.  As a startup company, Electra is at an early stage, so this position requires a versatile person who is not afraid to work hard and move fast. As the company will evolve and grow with time, so will this job. This position is in Manassas, VA.   

What You'll Do

• Analyze and synthesize aerodynamic data from CFD simulations, wind‑tunnel experiments, and flight test results to support performance and design evaluations. 
• Support the design and analysis of various test or prototype systems. 
• Assist with CFD analyses, including geometry preparation, mesh generation, solver execution, and post‑processing of results. 
• Support gated design reviews to demonstrate the adequacy of the designs and procedures. 
• Support trade studies to define architectures, requirements, and interfaces between systems. 
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams (structures, controls, propulsion, systems) to gather data, integrate insights, and drive informed design decisions. 

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, or related field; Master's degree preferred
• 2+ years of experience in relevant discipline areas or an equivalent combination of education, skills, and experience
• Hands‑on experience running and interpreting results from aerospace‑focused CFD solvers such as Flow360, FUN3D, or similar high-fidelity CFD solver. 
• Familiarity with mesh generation in Pointwise or similar mesh generation tool for external flows and complex geometry. 
• Experience in Python for CFD data analysis, post‑processing, automation, and workflow integration. 
• Familiarity with post processing in Paraview for visualizing and understanding flow fields results from CFD.  
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively within a startup environment. 
• Ability to write and maintain clean documentation for your design process. 
• Strong program background, work ethic, and interdisciplinary/system thinking to independently meet and lead the areas described by the responsibilities and essential functions. 
• Ability to manage design tasks, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced development environment

Bonus Points

• Master’s or PhD degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related discipline with emphasis on aerodynamics, CFD, or flight physics. 
• Knowledge of flight vehicle dynamics, including aerodynamic forces, stability, and control principles. 
• Experience in VLM-based analysis tools such as xRotor, AVL for lower order aerodynamic assessment. 
• Familiar with using Flow360 CFD solver for external aerodynamic simulations, including experience validating results against test data. 
• Strong software development capability in Python (preferred) or MATLAB, including experience creating automated post‑processing workflows, custom analysis tools, and data pipelines. 
• Familiarity with the aircraft development process and familiarity with aircraft systems and FAR 23 regulations.  
• Private pilot license or a strong passion for aviation
• US Person (Citizen or Green Card) Preferred 

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
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