Flight Physics Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 13, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 12, 2026.
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 anIntermediateFlight Physics Engineerto assist withthe 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 synthesizeaerodynamic data from CFDsimulations, wind-tunnel experiments, and flight test resultsto support performance and design evaluations.
- Support the designand analysisof various test or prototype systems.
- Assist withCFD analyses, including geometry preparation, mesh generation, solver execution, and post-processing of results.
- Supportgated design reviews to demonstrate the adequacy of the designs and procedures.
- Support trade studies todefine 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 Pointwiseor similar mesh generation toolfor external flows and complex geometry.
- Experiencein Python for CFD data analysis, post-processing, automation, and workflow integration.
- Familiaritywithpost processing inParaviewfor 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.
- Familiarwithusing 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.
- Familiaritywith the aircraft development process and familiarity with aircraft systemsand 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.
Compensation Range
$92,000—$112,000 USD
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
- Free on-site parking
Electra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This position may be subject to ITAR requirements.