Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)

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 Electra seeks a highly effective, strategic, well-networked, and collaborative Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) to lead Electra's engagement with the commercial market and, importantly, to bring together the necessary ecosystem to launch the entirely new category of Direct Aviation. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CCO will lead a team that consists of professionals that hold three core accountabilities: Selling, Marketing, and Market Development. Selling: The CCO and team are responsible, globally, for converting Electra's 2,000+ backlog of EL9 commercial market LOIs and its non-LOI'd commercial sales pipeline into firm, fixed price Deposit Agreements, featuring significant, non-refundable Pre-Delivery Payment (PDP) deposits. The team will also be responsible for ensuring airline customers have access to finance and lease solutions for EL9 aircraft procurement. Marketing: The CCO and team build, maintain and deploy the suite of operational modeling tools and marketing collateral that support customer evaluation of the EL9 from the multiple perspectives of Fleet, Network and Operations. In addition, the CCO develops and delivers Electra's customer partnership for commercial market demos. Market Development: Market Development has three intersecting components: delivery of commercial market demos, access point development and associated operational regulatory enablement. Access point development encompasses creation of Electra's partnerships with the third parties who develop and operate Ultra Short access points to accommodate EL9 operations. In addition, this work will include further strategic assessment of in-house access point development. Operational regulatory enablement encompasses working directly with the FAA and State and Local authorities to establish approvals, policy, and guidance to support Ultra Short operations at novel access points on- and off-airports, including managing Electra's eIPP commitments with DOT. This is a high-impact executive role requiring significant experience in global aviation, rigorous commercial negotiation, aviation finance, market development efforts, regulatory and government engagement, and proven success in building a revenue engine in an analogous environment. Prior start-up experience is a significant plus. What You'll Do Executive & Strategic Leadership Serve as a strategic advisor and business partner to the CEO, Board of Advisors, and executive leadership teamPartner cross-functionally with product development, engineering, manufacturing and supply chain operations, test and certification, and in-service operations leadership to align commercial customer strategy with product and operational readinessPartner with Electra Defense leadership to align overlapping engagements between the Commercial and Defense businessesSupport Board presentations, investor discussions, and strategic growth initiatives Selling, Marketing & Market Development Leadership Lead development and execution of the company's global commercial revenue strategy across all use cases, including regional airlines, mobility operators and network partners, cargo and logistics providers, and enterprise customersBuild, maintain and deploy the suite of operational modeling tools and marketing collateral that support customer evaluation of the EL9 from the multiple perspectives of Aircraft Performance (take-off and landing distance analyses, payload/range analyses, configurations, extreme conditions analyses), Fleet (acquisition, financing, management, etc.), Network (market demand, route structure, mixed platform integrations, minimum revenue guarantee planning, airline P&L modeling, etc.), and Operations (cost, revenue, maintenance, training, access point parameters, etc.)Develop and deliver customer partnership for Electra's commercial market demos, specifically designed to advance customer sales campaigns, industry-wide Ultra Short adoption, and company positioning with investors, suppliers, governments and other key stakeholdersStructure and close complex, long-cycle (multi-year) sales campaigns, from Deposit Agreements to Sales Agreements, that advance commercial sales in alignment with the company's financial growth and pricing strategiesEstablish relationships with aviation financiers and acquisition/PDP financing deployment models to support customer finance-ability of EL9 acquisition Infrastructure Leadership Drive ecosystem development for Direct Aviation as a new category, between developers, communities, regulators, airports, other access point operators, State and Local authorities, and other key stakeholdersConstruct Electra's partnerships with the third parties developing Ultra Short access points to accommodate EL9 operationsLead strategic assessment of in-house access point developmentWork directly with the FAA and State and Local authorities to establish approvals, policy, and guidance to support Ultra Short operations at novel access points on- and off-airports Collaboration with Electra Defense Be a supportive partner to the Electra Defense team, collaborating on enterprise initiatives that link the commercial and defense selling agendas Global Market Development Identify and prioritize global markets for Direct Aviation adoption, including North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia-PacificDevelop and execute market entry strategies, partnerships, and localized operating modelsEvaluate international expansion opportunities, joint ventures, and strategic alliances Revenue Operations & Customer Alignment Establish pipeline management, forecasting discipline, and revenue operations infrastructureManage customer skyline against long-range planning aligned to certification timelines, production ramp, and network deploymentPartner with product development, manufacturing & supply chain operations and in-service operations to align offerings with customer requirements and market demandTranslate customer insights into inputs for vehicle capabilities, service design, and network operations, for both the EL9 and future product developmentTogether with the VP of In-Service Operations, ensure successful customer adoption, deployment, and long-term engagement Leadership & Team Development Build and lead a world-class global revenue organization across sales, partnerships, market development, and Ultra Short integrationRecruit, develop, and mentor high-performing commercial leadersFoster a high-accountability, collaborative, and execution-oriented cultureServe as a trusted cross-functional partner across the organization What You Bring Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Aviation, or related field18+ years of progressive commercial, business development, or revenue leadership experienceSignificant executive leadership experience in aerospace, aviation, defense, mobility, or infrastructure-scale industriesProven track record of driving revenue growth in complex, regulated, and emerging marketsExperience with technical product selling, B2B selling, long cycle sales campaigns, and selling into complicated, large-scale enterprise customersDemonstrated success closing large, strategic, multi-year deals ($25M+)Experience building and scaling revenue organizations in high-growth environmentsStrong understanding of global market expansion and partnership developmentProven ability to operate effectively in pre-commercial and scaling environmentsExceptional executive communication, negotiation, and leadership skills Bonus Points MBA preferredExperience in Advanced Air Mobility, Direct Aviation models, rotorcraft, or next-generation aerospace platformsFamiliarity with certification processesExperience with international market development and global commercial operationsExperience in venture-backed or high-growth aerospace organizationsFamiliarity with airspace integration frameworks Compensation Compensation details for this role will be shared during the interview process. What We Offer Competitive salary and equityMedical, dental, and vision insurance; STD, LTD, and life insuranceGenerous PTO, sick leave, and company holidaysPaid winter break401(k) with immediate vestingFree catered lunches, coffee, snacks, and drinks at our Manassas headquartersFree 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.