Chief Technology Officer — Aerospace Engineering

Chief Technology Officer – Aerospace Engineering (Hybrid-Electric Aircraft)

Up to $250,000 base + stock options | Firebaugh, CA (Eagle Field Airport), Bay Area/Palo Alto presence preferred | Full-time, on-site or hybrid with travel to Eagle Field

About the opportunity
Our client is building a hybrid-electric drive-and-fly vehicle and needs its top engineering leader. As CTO, you'll own the technical direction of the whole vehicle: aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, batteries, avionics, flight controls, autonomy, simulation, systems integration and engineering test. You'll be hands-on, working at startup pace alongside company leadership, with every engineering discipline reporting to you through its lead.

What you'll do
Set the vehicle's technical roadmap with leadership and align it with product priorities
Own and resolve cross-discipline technical decisions and keep the vehicle architecture consistent
Build, mentor and grow the engineering team, and recruit for upcoming program phases
Lead architecture and major design reviews, balancing performance, reliability and cost
Partner with airworthiness and flight test on evidence-based readiness and technical risk
Guide the integration of autonomy software, flight controls and physical systems
Shape supplier and partner technical strategy
Put practical requirements and engineering-change controls in place, and work with the Program Manager on schedule and staffing

What you bring
Bachelor's in aerospace or aeronautical engineering, or closely related engineering with substantial aircraft design and development experience
Multidisciplinary engineering leadership on a significant aircraft or aircraft-system program, with roughly 15+ years in aerospace (exceptional candidates with fewer years will be considered)
A record of taking aircraft or aircraft systems through design, prototype integration and test
Deep aerodynamics expertise and strong whole-vehicle integration judgment
Working knowledge of airworthiness, development assurance and configuration control
U.S. work authorization (no visa sponsorship)

Nice to have
Experience as a CTO, chief engineer, vehicle lead or head of aircraft design
VTOL, electric or hybrid propulsion, autonomy integration or aircraft certification experience
A graduate degree in aerospace engineering
Hands-on use of AI engineering tools with measurable results

Compensation and arrangement
Base salary up to $250,000, plus stock options
Primary site is Eagle Field Airport in Firebaugh, CA, with a Bay Area presence preferred. Local, on-site or hybrid work with regular travel to Eagle Field. This role is not primarily remote.
Candidates willing to relocate are welcome

Why apply through Total Aviation Staffing
Total Aviation Staffing connects aviation and aerospace professionals with leading employers across commercial, business and general aviation, MRO, aerospace and defense, and aviation technology. Applying with us gives you a specialized aviation recruiter in your corner and access to openings that may not be publicly advertised.

Ready to lead the engineering behind a new kind of aircraft? Apply today.