Senior/Principal Airframe Stress Engineer

About Electra

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

A global company headquartered in Manassas, VA, with additional operations in Switzerland, Electra is backed by industry leaders and is 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 or Principal Airframe Stress Engineer, you will lead structural analysis efforts supporting the development, certification, and production of Electra's flagship hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft. This role is responsible for ensuring the structural integrity of metallic and composite airframe components through detailed analysis, testing, and certification substantiation.

You will work closely with design engineering, loads, materials & processes, manufacturing, structural test, suppliers, and certification teams to develop robust airframe structures that meet performance, safety, and FAA certification requirements. The ideal candidate combines deep structural analysis expertise with strong engineering judgment and the ability to influence aircraft design decisions throughout the product lifecycle.

What You'll Do

• Support development of major airframe structures from preliminary design through certification, production launch, and manufacturing ramp-up
• Perform static strength, fatigue, and durability analyses for metallic and composite aircraft structures
• Develop structural substantiation methods and analysis plans supporting FAA Part 23 type certification
• Create and validate finite element models using FEMAP/Nastran or equivalent analysis tools
• Perform detailed hand calculations using industry-standard methodologies and references including:
  • Bruhn
  • Niu
  • Roark
  • ESDU
  • Classical mechanics of materials approaches
• Collaborate with loads, design, materials & processes, manufacturing, structural test, and certification teams throughout the entire development process
• Support trade studies and structural design optimization activities
• Define structural analysis requirements and certification substantiation plans
• Review and approve design dispositions and engineering analyses
• Support component, subassembly, and full-scale structural testing activities, including:
  • Test planning
  • Requirements definition
  • Instrumentation support
  • Data review
  • Test reporting
• Prepare structural substantiation reports and certification documentation
• Present structural analyses and recommendations during internal and external design reviews
• Support supplier technical reviews and provide guidance on structural analysis methodologies
• Contribute to the establishment of structural analysis processes, best practices, and design standards

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• Experience in airframe structural analysis supporting aircraft development programs
• Strong knowledge of metallic and composite aircraft structures
• Experience supporting FAA Part 23 and/or Part 25 aircraft certification programs
• Advanced proficiency with FEMAP/Nastran or equivalent finite element analysis tools
• Experience with NX or similar CAD platforms
• Strong understanding of:
  • Aircraft loads
  • Free body diagrams
  • Structural load paths
  • Mechanics of materials
  • Structural stability and failure modes
• Advanced proficiency performing both hand calculations and finite element analyses
• Experience developing structural subs