Full-Time
Business Planning Manager
Posted on 7/17/2025
Supernal
201-500 employees
Develops eVTOLs for urban air mobility
Compensation Overview
$155k - $190k/yr
Irvine, CA, USA
In Person
On-site 5 days/week; travel up to 10% (domestic/international).
 Business & Strategy (2) |
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- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aeronautical, Aerospace, Mechanical) or a related field required
- Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in strategic planning, product management, management consulting, or a similar role within the aviation, mobility, or tech industries
- Bilingual fluency in English/Korean required
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a proven ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable strategies and operational plans
- Deep understanding of the aviation industry, including key drivers of change, regulatory environment, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies (e.g., eVTOLs)
- Outstanding verbal and written communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively articulate complex findings and recommendations to diverse audiences, including executive leadership
- Mechanical Engineering knowledge and terminology
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for sophisticated data analysis, modeling, and presentation development
- Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams and manage projects effectively
- Strong ability to work independently and strategically, with a proactive and results-oriented approach
- Establish and align investor-facing KPIs with internal company-wide performance metrics particularly in technology development, to support strategic funding efforts and ensure transparent, ongoing communication with investors through regular progress updates
- Lead the annual and mid-term business planning cycles by helping define next year’s business priorities, setting performance targets, and aligning cross-functional inputs
- Create and maintain regular business performance reports for investors, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and strategic relevance
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather inputs, validate assumptions, and ensure alignment with corporate objectives
- Lead in preparing clear and concise presentations and reports for executive leadership and global stakeholders
- Conduct business and market research to support planning assumptions and strategic recommendations
- Monitor industry trends, competitor activities, and macroeconomic developments to inform planning and forecasting
- Manage and mentor junior team members, fostering their professional growth and development
- Undertake domestic and/or international travel up to 10% as required
- Perform other duties as assigned
- In-house strategic planning or management consulting experience within the aviation or aerospace (especially AAM or eVTOLs) sector is highly desirable
- Exceptional proactive communication and follow-up skills, with the ability to anticipate and address potential issues
- Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail
- A proven track record of driving strategic initiatives to successful completion
- Advanced analytical modeling skills
- Exceptional ability to build trust-based relationships and navigate complex, cross-cultural organizations
Supernal develops electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility. Its flagship S-A2 uses eight tilting rotors to take off and land vertically, enabling zero-emission city travel. It earns revenue by selling or leasing aircraft to operators and by providing maintenance, software updates, and fleet management to integrate with city transportation networks. The company aims to coordinate vehicle design with city planning and safety to reduce ground traffic and carbon emissions.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Washington DC, District of Columbia
Founded
2020
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Farhan Gandhi's appointment as CTO on May 5, 2026, brings aerospace expertise post-layoffs.
- March 10, 2025, partnership with CHC Helicopter and Heli-One scales eVTOL operations.
- Uber-Joby Dubai launch by end-2026 validates AAM market for Supernal's entry.
What critics are saying
- 80% workforce cut on February 27, 2026, leaves 70-80 staff unable to develop S-A2.
- Joby Aviation launches Uber Air Taxi in Dubai by end-2026, capturing market share.
- S-A2 certification delays beyond 2028 cede first-mover advantage to Joby and Archer.
What makes Supernal unique
- Supernal leverages Hyundai Motor Group's automotive manufacturing for scalable eVTOL production.
- S-A2 features unique eight tilting rotors solving urban engineering challenges.
- Supernal builds complete AAM ecosystem with vertiports integrated into transit networks.
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Benefits
Performance Bonus
Company News
Uber Air Taxi: skip LA traffic for the price of an Uber Black? Apr 3, 2026 1:40 PM PDT The sky-high shakeup: Uber Air Taxi set for takeoff as Hyundai hits turbulence. The dream of the "flying car" just took two very different turns. While Hyundai's ambitious air mobility wing, Supernal, recently underwent a massive restructuring - laying off 296 employees (nearly 80% of its 380-person staff) - ride-hailing giant Uber is doubling down. Moving from the drawing board to the flight deck, the Uber Air Taxi service is officially entering its commercialization phase, promising to turn hour-long gridlock into a few minutes of scenic flight. Hyundai's "strategic pivot" vs. Uber's global launch. Industry analysts suggest Supernal is struggling to keep pace with competitors and prove the immediate commercial viability of its craft. Despite the layoffs, Hyundai maintains it isn't shutting down, but rather "optimizing" for the long term. Meanwhile, Uber has a much tighter timeline. Partnering with aerospace startup Joby Aviation, Uber plans to launch its first commercial air taxi service in Dubai by the end of 2026. Following a six-year exclusive agreement in the UAE, the service is expected to land in major U.S. hubs like Los Angeles as soon as the FAA gives the final green light. How it works: booking your flight in the Uber app. The Uber Air Taxi experience is designed to be as seamless as ordering a sandwich. When the service goes live, users will see "Uber Air" as a premium option right alongside UberX and Uber Black. * The Integrated Journey: Choosing the air option doesn't just get you a flight. It organizes a "multi-modal" trip: an Uber Black picks you up, drops you at a "vertiport" (a specialized landing pad), you fly over the traffic, and another vehicle meets you at the destination. * The Cost: While exact pricing remains under wraps, Uber indicates that the aerial portion will be priced similarly to an Uber Black trip on the ground. You'll see the total price per passenger before you tap "Confirm." Inside the machine: The Joby evtol. The aircraft itself is a marvel of 2026 tech. The Joby-developed craft is a 4-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle featuring: * Performance: 6 tilting propellers allowing for a top speed of 200 mph and a 100-mile range per charge. * Quiet Luxury: Designed specifically for urban environments, the craft is remarkably silent and features large panoramic windows for a "VIP" view of the city. * Safety Record: The aircraft has already logged over 50,000 miles in test flights and is currently in the final stages of FAA type certification. The bottom line. The race for the skies is narrowing. While some manufacturers are scaling back to refine their tech, Uber and Joby are betting that the world is ready to look up. If the Dubai launch succeeds this year, your morning commute above the 405 might be closer than you think. BY HOONSIK WOO [[email protected]]
Supernal, a Hyundai-backed air taxi startup based in Irvine, has laid off 296 employees, approximately 80% of its workforce. The company will retain a skeleton staff of 70 to 80 employees as it restructures operations. The cuts affected staff at the Mojave Air & Space Port test facility, as well as offices in Orange County and Fremont. Operations will consolidate to the Irvine headquarters, where the company relocated from Washington, D.C., in 2023. Supernal is developing the S-A2, a four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, with certification previously planned for 2028. That timeline is likely to be delayed as the company pauses aircraft development. Competitors Joby and Archer Aviation are targeting limited service for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Supernal, Hyundai's US-based electric air taxi unit, has laid off 296 employees — approximately 80% of its workforce — in what the company calls a "strategic pivot". The cuts were made to optimise staffing and cost structures for long-term aircraft development. The layoffs leave Supernal with a skeleton staff of 70 to 80 people, consolidating operations at its Irvine, California headquarters. The company, which began tethered flight testing of its S-A2 air taxi demonstrator last year, has lagged behind competitors and previously targeted certification and commercial operations in 2028. A spokesperson emphasised Supernal is "not shutting down" and that Hyundai "remains committed" to advanced air mobility. The company will focus on stabilising operations, developing a new business model, and creating a commercially viable aircraft.
Supernal lays off 296 workers, consolidates operations to Irvine. Hyundai's Supernal electric vertical takeoff and landing startup cut 80% of its California workforce last month as it pivots to a long-term strategy for aircraft development, a spokesman said Monday. The company, which moved its headquarters to Irvine from Washington, D.C. in 2023, laid off 296 employees Feb. 27 at Supernal's Orange County operations along Laguna Canyon Road and Waterworks Way and at facilities in Fremont and its Mojave test site, the spokesman confirmed in a statement. The company has not yet made a state filing announcing the layoffs with the Employment Development Department. The news was first reported by the Orange County Business Journal. "This decision is a strategic pivot to ensure our staffing and cost structures are optimized for the long-term delivery of our market-aligned aircraft design," the spokesman said. Hyundai Motor Group remains committed to the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) business as part of its future mobility vision, and Supernal will continue to serve as the group's dedicated AAM execution arm for aircraft development." The spokesman said Supernal's focus "remains on stabilizing the company, shaping a new business model, and developing a commercially viable aircraft." He said all of the company's work would be consolidated to its Irvine headquarters. Last September, Hyundai Motor Group shook up leadership at its $1.7 billion Supernal electric aircraft startup. The concept, which paused its aircraft programs to evaluate next steps, has been slow to demonstrate its autonomous flying technology at a test facility at the Mojave Air & Space Port. Meanwhile, rivals have surged ahead with development of their own "electric vertical take-off and landing" aircrafts, or eVTOL. The South Korean automaker said Jaiwon Shin resigned Aug. 31 as Supernal's chief executive officer of Hyundai's Advanced Air Mobility Division and was moved into an adviser role to help transition new leadership. Following last summer's layoffs of 10% of its workforce in California, the company said it would have 500 workers remaining throughout the company. The spokesman said between 70-80 employees remain at Supernal.
Supernal has announced a strategic collaboration with CHC Helicopter and Heli-One to drive the development of advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions.