Electra

Develops hybrid-electric eSTOL regional aircraft

Senior Program Manager

Program ManagementPosted on Nov 13

Full-timeOlten, SwitzerlandNo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Must be a U.S. Person.
At least 8 years of program or project management experience, ideally within aerospace, defense, or a related complex technical industry.
A proven track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs with tight schedules and significant logistical coordination.
Experience working with international operations, export control considerations, and cross-border logistics.
Strong organizational and risk management skills, with the ability to adapt plans quickly in dynamic environments.
Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, flight test, legal, and business teams.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging with government and/or customer audiences.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally, potentially for extended periods.

Responsibilities

Develop a master schedule, budget, and resourcing plan for the tour, including aircraft transport and ferry logistics, ground support, and personnel deployment to meet mission objectives and success criteria.
Coordinate with Sales, Business Development, and Government Affairs to prioritize target locations, stakeholders, and events, including customer demonstrations, government engagements, and airshows, across the tour itinerary.
Partner with Flight Test and Engineering teams to ensure the aircraft, crew, and support equipment are mission-ready for each tour stop.
Coordinate with Legal, Regulatory, and International Trade/Export Control functions to secure necessary permissions, airspace access, and customs clearances for international operations.
Serve as the central point of coordination between internal teams and external partners, hosts, and government counterparts at each location.
Manage vendors and logistics partners supporting ground operations, transport, and lodging.
Identify, track, and mitigate risks related to schedule, safety, logistics, weather, and geopolitical factors across tour locations.
Develop contingency plans for schedule disruptions, maintenance needs, or changes in stop-level objectives.
Monitor tour execution in real time and adjust plans as needed to maintain safety and achieve strategic goals.
Maintain clear documentation and traceability of decisions, approvals, and changes throughout the tour.
Provide regular status updates to program and executive leadership on tour progress, risks, and outcomes.
Capture and communicate lessons learned and stakeholder feedback from each tour stop.
Support internal and external communications and marketing efforts related to the tour.
Deliver a post-tour summary with key outcomes, metrics, and recommendations for future campaigns.
After the European tour, transition to supporting EL9; likely options include test team program management, program office support, or leading teams executing government contracts, with the specific support depending on the candidate's skills and interests.

Desired Qualifications

An advanced degree.
Experience supporting flight test campaigns, demonstration tours, or airshow operations.
Familiarity with European aviation regulatory environments and airspace coordination.
Experience working with government or defense customers internationally.
Prior experience with aircraft ferry or transport logistics.

About Electra

Air travel is about to become something more: more direct, more accessible, and more connected to the places where people live, work and want to be. Every day in the U.S., people make 35 million trips of 50–500 miles, stuck in traffic or routed through crowded hubs. Chances are, you've been one of them. At Electra, we're changing that with the EL9, a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off and lands in just 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology opens up thousands of new places to fly, beyond conventional runways, congested airports and long drives. We're backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and Safran. Operators worldwide have signed intent-to-purchase agreements for the first 2,200 aircraft we produce, and we're moving toward first test flights in 2027.

Getting a new kind of aircraft airborne takes more than ambition. It takes our kind of bold: people who think big while working in the real world. Who move ideas into action and collaborate without silos. Who put people first and make room at the table for everyone. Who challenge one another without diminishing one another.

Sound like you? Then look beyond what you thought were your own limits, and help us take flight beyond runways.

The Role

Electra seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead the planning and execution of a European tour for Electra's EL2 technology demonstrator aircraft. This role will serve as the primary team lead for the EL2 program, partnering closely with engineering, flight test, government and commercial stakeholders, and company leadership to ensure the tour achieves its strategic objectives safely, on schedule, and within budget. After the completion of the European tour this role will transition to supporting EL9. The exact nature of this support will depend on the candidates specific skills and interest areas; likely options include test team program management, program office support, or leading teams executing government contract

What You'll Do

Tour Planning and Strategy

Develop a master schedule, budget, and resourcing plan for the tour, including aircraft transport/ferry logistics, ground support, and personnel deployment to meet the overall mission objectives and success critera.
Coordinate with Sales, Business Development, and Government Affairs to prioritization of target locations, stakeholders, and events (e.g., customer demonstrations, government engagements, airshows) across the tour itinerary.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Partner with Flight Test and Engineering teams to ensure the aircraft, crew, and support equipment are mission-ready for each tour stop
Coordinate with Legal, Regulatory, and International Trade/Export Control functions to secure necessary permissions, airspace access, and customs clearances for international operations
Serve as the central point of coordination between internal teams and external partners, hosts, and government counterparts at each location
Manage vendor and logistics partners supporting ground operations, transport, and lodging

Risk Management and Execution

Identify, track, and mitigate risks related to schedule, safety, logistics, weather, and geopolitical factors across tour locations
Develop contingency plans for schedule disruptions, maintenance needs, or changes in stop-level objectives
Monitor tour execution in real time and adjust plans as needed to maintain safety and achieve strategic goals
Maintain clear documentation and traceability of decisions, approvals, and changes throughout the tour

Reporting and Communication

Provide regular status updates to program and executive leadership on tour progress, risks, and outcomes
Capture and communicate lessons learned and stakeholder feedback from each tour stop
Support internal and external communications/marketing efforts related to the tour
Deliver a post-tour summary with key outcomes, metrics, and recommendations for future campaigns

What You'll Bring

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience (advanced degree a plus)
US Persons required
8+ years in program or project management, ideally within aerospace, defense, or a related complex technical industry
Proven track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs with tight schedules and significant logistical coordination
Experience working with international operations, export control considerations, and cross-border logistics
Strong organizational and risk management skills, with the ability to adapt plans quickly in dynamic environments
Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, flight test, legal, and business teams
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging with government and/or customer audiences
Willingness and ability to travel internationally, potentially for extended periods

Bonus Points

Experience supporting flight test campaigns, demonstration tours, or airshow operations
Familiarity with European aviation regulatory environments and airspace coordination
Experience working with government or defense customers internationally
Prior experience with aircraft ferry/transport logistics

What We Offer

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

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.

About the Company

Electra

Develops hybrid-electric eSTOL regional aircraft

Electra.aero develops hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft to enable regional air travel between 50 and 500 miles. The aircraft use a blown-lift method to take off and land from spaces smaller than a soccer field, combining helicopter-like flexibility with fixed-wing efficiency and quiet electric propulsors. It plans to sell or lease these aircraft to airlines and service providers, enabling access to small regional airports and non-traditional landing sites while reducing runway needs. Its goal is to decarbonize aviation and make sustainable, affordable regional travel practical for thousands of underserved communities.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Series B
Total funding: $121.2M
Headquarters: Manassas, VA
Founded: 2019

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