What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Financial Planning & Analysis position at Electra.aero?
About Electra
Electra is building the future of sustainable aviation through cutting-edge hybrid-electric aircraft designed for safe, quiet, efficient regional mobility. We are a mission-driven aerospace team developing breakthrough technology that unlocks new transportation possibilities while reducing environmental impact. Join us at a pivotal moment in our growth as we scale from development to certification and production.
Position Summary
Electra is seeking a strategic and execution-driven Director of FP&A to lead our financial planning, forecasting, and performance management functions during a transformative phase of growth. This leader will partner closely with the CFO and CEO to drive financial discipline, long-term planning, and decision support across engineering, manufacturing, certification, programs, and corporate operations.
This role is ideal for a finance leader with deep experience in aerospace and manufacturing who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can build scalable FP&A infrastructure from the ground up. The FP&A function and the accounting function are two halves of the same team - this person and our Controller need to work as a genuine dynamic duo, with FP&A owning the "why it happened" and "what comes next" while accounting owns the books.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Leadership
This is a ground-floor finance leadership role at a company with real momentum, serious investors, and a certified path to market. A few specifics worth knowing:
We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those from marginalized or underrepresented groups in the tech industry and aerospace, to apply for our job openings. We firmly believe that a diverse range of perspectives can profoundly influence both our product and our company culture.
Electra is committed to a work environment that is inclusive to all and free of discrimination. It is our policy to be an equal opportunity employer without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other factors prohibited by law. Electra will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals.
Electra is an E-Verify employer.
Electra is building the future of sustainable aviation through cutting-edge hybrid-electric aircraft designed for safe, quiet, efficient regional mobility. We are a mission-driven aerospace team developing breakthrough technology that unlocks new transportation possibilities while reducing environmental impact. Join us at a pivotal moment in our growth as we scale from development to certification and production.
Position Summary
Electra is seeking a strategic and execution-driven Director of FP&A to lead our financial planning, forecasting, and performance management functions during a transformative phase of growth. This leader will partner closely with the CFO and CEO to drive financial discipline, long-term planning, and decision support across engineering, manufacturing, certification, programs, and corporate operations.
This role is ideal for a finance leader with deep experience in aerospace and manufacturing who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can build scalable FP&A infrastructure from the ground up. The FP&A function and the accounting function are two halves of the same team - this person and our Controller need to work as a genuine dynamic duo, with FP&A owning the "why it happened" and "what comes next" while accounting owns the books.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Leadership
- In collaboration with the CFO, lead companywide annual planning, quarterly forecasting, and long-range modeling aligned to corporate goals and aircraft development milestones
- Partner with the CEO and CFO to evaluate investment priorities, cash runway scenarios, and capital allocation decisions
- Support funding strategies for programs including defense, government partnerships, commercial development, and manufacturing scale-up
- Serve as the primary financial partner to Engineering, Programs, Operations, Certification, People, and Supply Chain leaders
- Develop standardized cost modeling for aircraft development phases, certification activities, prototype builds, supply chain readiness, and production ramps
- Provide rigorous analysis and insights on variances, risks, and opportunities - including CapEx and cost accounting decisions that matter differently in manufacturing than in other industries
- Build and lead a small but high-performing FP&A team supporting R&D, manufacturing, and corporate finance
- Work closely with the Controller on ERP evaluation & selection, forecasting tools, dashboards, and reporting automation
- Establish scalable processes for budgeting, monthly close support, BvAvF, cost tracking, and program financial reporting
- Prepare board and investor materials, cash flow analyses, and program financial updates
- Support due diligence for strategic partnerships, grants, and capital raises
- 16 years of progressive FP&A, corporate finance, or strategy experience, including at least 3 years of leadership responsibility
- Deep experience in aerospace and/or manufacturing environments as an FP&A leader - you understand CapEx, program cost accounting, and the difference between building an airplane and building software
- Track record building financial models for organizations with heavy investment requirements - multi-year R&D programs, production ramps, capital-intensive development
- Strong command of GAAP accounting, cost accounting, program finance, cash forecasting, and long-range planning
- Ability to influence executive stakeholders and communicate complex financial insights clearly
- Demonstrated success building or scaling FP&A functions and teams
- Experience with Vena and Unanet
- CPA
- Experience working with government contracts, SBIR/STTR, or defense programs
- MBA, CFA, or similar advanced degree
- Track record building financial models for multi-year R&D, engineering programs, or production ramp scenarios
- Familiarity with FAA certification and aerospace development lifecycles
This is a ground-floor finance leadership role at a company with real momentum, serious investors, and a certified path to market. A few specifics worth knowing:
- Meaningful exposure to the CEO from the start - not three layers removed from the decisions that matter
- A function to build and own long-term - the infrastructure, the team, the processes, the tools
- Equity in a company backed by Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, and Safran, with a launch customer (Bristow Group, NYSE: VTOL) already signed and an active FAA certification process underway
- Competitive base salary, performance bonus, and equity
- Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, life insurance
- 401(k) with immediate vesting
- Generous PTO, sick leave, and paid company holidays including a paid winter break
- Free catered lunches, snacks, coffee, and free parking at our Manassas headquarters
We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those from marginalized or underrepresented groups in the tech industry and aerospace, to apply for our job openings. We firmly believe that a diverse range of perspectives can profoundly influence both our product and our company culture.
Electra is committed to a work environment that is inclusive to all and free of discrimination. It is our policy to be an equal opportunity employer without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other factors prohibited by law. Electra will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals.
Electra is an E-Verify employer.