Principal Engineer, Digital Manufacturing

About the role

Electra is developing the EL9, a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft capable of taking off and landing in 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology allows for thousands of new operating locations and Direct Aviation, quiet, point-to-point regional travel without airport congestion or conventional aviation noise. Headquartered in Manassas, VA, Electra is backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and Safran, has filed for FAA Part 23 type certification, and has 2,000+ intent to purchase from operators worldwide. With a team of ~100 people, Electra aims to achieve first EL9 test flights in 2027 and certification by late 2029 or 2030.

Role

As Principal Engineer, Digital Manufacturing, you will serve as the technical authority for the architecture, integration, and deployment of Electra's manufacturing digital systems, connecting PLM, ERP, MES, and other systems. Reporting to Industrialization and collaborating with the Enterprise PMO on ERP and production systems, you will support ERP definition, assess PLM integration, and develop a roadmap for PLM integration into production. In your first 90 days, you will participate in ERP selection and implementation alongside the production systems team.

What You'll Do

• Participate in and help shape Electra's Digital Manufacturing strategy
• Lead integration of PLM, ERP, and MES into the production environment
• Support ERP selection and implementation alongside the production systems team
• Partner with the Automation & Robotics lead to integrate equipment and PLM/MES/ERP
• Support configuration management, data governance, and traceability
• Develop deployment roadmaps, testing plans, and adoption strategies
• Mentor engineers and technical leaders in digital manufacturing methodologies and best practices

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 10+ years of experience in Digital Manufacturing, Manufacturing Systems, Manufacturing IT, or Enterprise Systems roles within the aerospace industry
• Demonstrated experience as a key user, solution owner, architect, or implementation leader for ERP and MES systems
• Proven experience integrating PLM, ERP, and MES systems, along with quality and manufacturing support applications
• Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes, production operations, and enterprise business architecture principles
• Experience leading software implementation projects from requirements definition through deployment and go-live
• Strong communication skills, able to translate business requirements into technical solutions and technical concepts into business outcomes

Bonus Points

• Master's degree in Engineering, Information Technology, Manufacturing Systems, or a related field
• Experience in an aerospace startup or high-production-rate manufacturing environment
• Experience supporting aircraft industrialization and production ramp-up programs
• Knowledge of cloud-based manufacturing platforms, data lake architecture, and manufacturing analytics
• Familiarity with Digital Thread, Model-Based Enterprise (MBE), and Industry 4.0 concepts
• Experience supporting regulated aerospace manufacturing environments and quality management systems

Location

Remote candidates will be considered, provided they can travel regularly to both Manassas, VA and Springfield, OH, with an ultimate relocation requirement to Springfield, OH once the manufacturing facility is operational. Manassas, VA preferred.

Compensation

$140,000 - $170,000

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
• Free on-site parking