Principal Quality Engineer - Manufacturing & Certification

The Role

As a Principal Quality Engineer at Electra, you'll serve as a dual-site quality presence across our Manassas, VA headquarters and our future manufacturing site in Springfield, OH. You'll be embedded across Manufacturing, Production, Engineering, Flight Test, and Tooling — owning day-to-day quality oversight while simultaneously helping build the QMS infrastructure we'll carry into FAA type and production certification.

This is a hands-on role with significant ownership. You'll sit at the intersection of regulatory compliance and production execution — running floor inspections, leading MRB disposition, supporting flight test conformity, and developing the training and lean quality systems that will scale with our rate ramp. You'll report into Electra's Quality leadership and be expected to operate with professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment across every site and stakeholder.

What You'll Do

• Represent Electra's Quality department with professionalism and positive intent at all locations and in all interactions — from the shop floor to executive stakeholder meetings
• Support FAA Part 23 Type and Production Certification efforts at Manassas, VA and Springfield, OH, providing quality oversight and documentation in alignment with program milestones
• Partner with Manufacturing, Production, Engineering, Tooling, Flight Test, and Facilities teams through hands-on on-site support, evaluations, inspections, and periodic status reporting using Electra's established tools and methods
• Lead development, documentation, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of a compliant FAA CFR 21.137 Quality Management System, including Production/Manufacturing floor oversight, in-process inspections, and Receiving Inspection
• Serve as the Quality focal for Material Review Board (MRB) activities — driving disposition of non-conforming parts and articles, supporting root cause investigation, and maintaining a Safety/Quality-first presence at all times
• Support the future development and implementation of an AS9100D / AS9102-compliant Quality System, should program objectives require it
• Drive Lean quality practices across Production and Manufacturing, including shop floor control, tool and equipment calibration, and employee certification and competency programs
• Support FAA Flight Test operations at both Manassas, VA and Springfield, OH — including Pre/Post Flight quality activities, Safe to Fly determinations, and FAA Conformity Inspections
• Develop, deliver, and maintain a comprehensive Quality Training Program that builds capability across the production organization
• Own predictive quality and rate acceleration objectives — implementing techniques and systems that enable Manufacturing to achieve production rate milestones reliably and on schedule
• Provide additional quality support as program needs evolve

What You Bring

• 10+ years of quality engineering experience in an aerospace or aviation manufacturing environment, with demonstrated experience supporting FAA certification programs
• Working knowledge of FAA CFR 21.137 Quality Management System requirements and the ability to develop and maintain compliant documentation and procedures
• Hands-on experience with in-process and receiving inspection, MRB disposition, and non-conformance management
• Familiarity with AS9100D and/or AS9102 standards and their application in an active production environment
• Experience supporting FAA flight test operations, including Conformity Inspections and Safe to Fly determinations
• Demonstrated ability to build and deliver technical training programs for production personnel
• Understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles and their application to quality and production rate improvement
• Strong cross-functional communication skills — comfortable working across engineering, manufacturing, and regulatory stakeholders in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment
• Willingness and ability to travel and support operations at multiple sites (Manassas, VA and Springfield, OH)
• US Person (Citizen or Permanent Resident) required

Bonus Points

• Direct experience supporting a Part 23 production approval or production certification milestone
• Prior experience standing up a QMS from early-stage to audit-ready at a startup or growth-stage aerospace company
• Familiarity with FAA DER/DAR/DMIR processes and their intersection with production quality
• A&P Mechanic certificate or equivalent practical aviation maintenance background
• Exposure to eVTOL, hybrid-electric, or novel propulsion aircraft programs