Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Archer is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), aviation-related physical artificial intelligence (“AI”) solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors.
Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members.
Note: This role must be based onsite in the San Jose area. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
What You’ll Do:
- Autonomous Algorithms & Planning: Design, implement, and mature real-time path/motion planning, mission planning, multi-platform coordination, and onboard decision-making algorithms for single- and multi-agent systems
- Data Pipelines, Logging & Infrastructure: Architect end-to-end data pipelines for high-rate sensor logging, telemetry recording, onboard data processing, and playback to support post-flight analytics, model training, and algorithmic regression testing
- Comms & Datalink Integration: Build and optimize resilient communication protocols and networking logic over bandwidth-constrained, high-latency, or lossy datalinks to enable reliable multi-agent coordination and command/control (C2)
- System Integration & Execution: Integrate planning algorithms, data pipelines, and comms layers directly with the broader embedded onboard software stack for real-time, low-latency execution
- Testing & Field Validation: Validate complex autonomous behaviors, datalink performance, and data pipelines across software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test rigs, and live field operations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with perception, navigation, systems, and hardware teams to field robust autonomous platforms operating under real-world uncertainty
What You Need:
- Education & Experience: Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) in Engineering, Computer Science, or Robotics, or a related field, featuring direct industry experience developing and deploying autonomy algorithms on fielded systems. (Ph.D. + 2 yrs / M.S. + 6 yrs / B.S. + 8 yrs)
- Languages & Embedded Execution: Production-level C++ experience for real-time, low-latency execution on embedded platforms, alongside strong Python proficiency for rapid prototyping, analytics, and C++/Python bindings
- Algorithms & Decision-Making: Proven track record designing and deploying path/motion planning, distributed coordination, and decision-making under uncertainty on physical hardware or HIL systems
- Data Processing & Logging Systems: Hands-on experience building high-throughput data logging, serialization, recording frameworks, and processing pipelines for embedded autonomy platforms
- Communications & Datalinks: Practical experience with wireless network protocols, custom datalink interface management, and designing multi-agent communication schemes under lossy, high-latency, or limited-bandwidth conditions
- Robotics Middleware: Deep hands-on production experience with ROS 2 infrastructure, including DDS middleware configuration, QoS tuning for low-bandwidth links, and custom message definition
Bonus Qualifications:
- Fielded Multi-Agent Systems: Experience fielding multi-agent or swarm systems on physical platforms (UAVs, AUVs, ground robotics) under tight compute, energy, and RF/datalink constraints
- Adversarial/RF Environments: Familiarity with mesh networking, tactical datalinks, or autonomous operations in communications-degraded or denied environments
- HIL & Data Management: Experience constructing high-fidelity HIL test benches with automated data ingestion, replay pipelines, and automated performance validation
- Intellectual Property: Track record of patents, publications, or technical contributions in autonomous planning, swarm coordination, or distributed communications
Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications.
At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possess the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s business strategy. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $144,000 - $180,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Skills Required
- Strong proficiency in C++
- Strong proficiency in Python
- Experience with path/motion planning algorithms
- Experience with multi-agent or distributed coordination algorithms
- Experience with optimization and decision-making under uncertainty
- Experience with ROS 2
- Must be based onsite in the United States (no visa sponsorship)
- Experience fielding multi-agent systems on real hardware
- Background in subscale aircraft, robotics, or autonomy applications
- Experience with simulation environments for multi-agent testing
Archer Aviation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Archer Aviation and has not been reviewed or approved by Archer Aviation.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, and vision, alongside HSA/FSA options and an Employee Assistance Program, forming a comprehensive base. Wellness activities and company-sponsored outings are additionally referenced.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes generous PTO, paid sick days, and paid holidays, with unlimited PTO noted for exempt employees. This breadth provides above-average flexibility for a hardware-focused environment.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Ownership opportunities include company equity, performance bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a purchase discount. Equity is used to keep packages competitive in high-demand roles, creating meaningful upside potential.
Archer Aviation Insights
What We Do
Archer is an aerospace company building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft focused on improving mobility in cities. The company's mission is to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. Archer is designing, manufacturing, and operating a fully electric aircraft that can carry four passengers for 60 miles at speeds of up to 150mph while producing minimal noise. Archer's team is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
