Principal Quality Engineer, Supplier QA

About the company

Electra develops hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft with distributed electric propulsion and blown lift, turbine genset in-flight recharging, carrying 7–9 passengers or ~3,000 lb from very short unimproved runways.

About this role

<div class="content-intro"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About Electra</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">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.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">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.</span></p></div><p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>The Role</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As our Principal Quality Engineer, Supplier QA Support, you'll hold dual responsibility within Electra's Quality organization: supporting our FAA Part 23 Type and Production Certification quality efforts, and leading supplier quality assurance across our procurement and manufacturing base. You'll represent Quality in meetings, on-site audits, and evaluations with Procurement, Suppliers, Manufacturing, Production, and Engineering - and you'll be a steady, professional presence for the department across every site and interaction.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You'll support the build-out of a 14 CFR 21.137-compliant Quality Management System, including First Article Inspection, and help stand up the supplier quality infrastructure - audits, documentation review, and an Approved Supplier List - that Electra needs as we scale from Manassas, VA to our future manufacturing site in Springfield, OH.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What You'll Do</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Uphold Electra's goals, objectives, and policies in a professional manner across all locations, and represent Electra and the Quality department positively in every interaction</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Support Quality's FAA Part 23 Type and Production Certification efforts at our Manassas, VA headquarters and future Springfield, OH manufacturing site, as needed</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Partner with Procurement, Supplier, Manufacturing, Production, and Engineering teams through meetings, on-site audits, and evaluations, providing feedback and periodic status reporting using Electra's standard reporting tools and methods</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Support development, documentation, implementation, and maintenance of a compliant 14 CFR 21.137 Quality Management System, including First Article Inspections (FAI), and help prevent non-conforming parts, articles, and defects while maintaining a safety- and quality-first presence at all times</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Support development, documentation, implementation, and maintenance of a compliant AS9100D / AS9102 quality system as company objectives require</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Provide strategic supplier quality support throughout the supplier selection process, including on-site audits, evaluation of supplier-provided documentation and certifications, and creation and management of an Approved Supplier List (ASL) per FAA Type and Production Certification requirements</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Support company, supplier, and FAA conformity inspections as needed</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Own predictive quality and rate-scaling efforts, applying Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) procedures and Six Sigma / Lean techniques to support Manufacturing and Production rate-increase milestones and objectives</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Provide other Quality support as needed</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What You Bring</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">10+ years of aerospace quality engineering, supplier quality, or airworthiness experience within an OEM or Tier 1/Tier 2 manufacturing environment</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Working knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21, including 21.137 Quality Management System requirements, and Part 23 Type and Production Certification processes</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Experience with First Article Inspection (AS9102) and conformity/inspection processes</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Supplier quality assurance experience, including on-site audits, supplier documentation evaluation, and Approved Supplier List (ASL) management</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Experience applying Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) and Six Sigma / Lean methodologies to support production rate scaling</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Willingness to travel to and support multiple sites, including Manassas, VA and Springfield, OH</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Strong cross-functional communication skills and comfort operating in a fast-paced, pre-production startup environment</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">US Person (Citizen or Permanent Resident) req