Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise.
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.
About the Role
Special Programs is Archer's rapid-prototyping, cross-functional engineering team supporting advanced and defense-focused development efforts. We operate as a small, empowered group capable of moving quickly across disciplines — from early technical assessment of new opportunities through hands-on design, analysis, and prototype development.
The Lead Special Programs Engineer – Advanced Behaviors & Algorithms brings deep expertise in advanced vehicle and mission behaviors as their organic core competency — designing and validating the tactics, decision logic, and mission-level behaviors that let prototype systems operate effectively in contested or dynamic environments.
What You’ll Do
- Lead design and validation of advanced mission behaviors and tactics for prototype vehicles, including behavior architectures, decision logic, and scenario-based validation
- Support rapid prototyping efforts end-to-end, from concept behaviors and simulation through hardware-in-the-loop test and flight test support
- Own the advanced behaviors discipline within Special Programs — setting technical approach, standards, and validation methods used across the program’s behavior work
- Conduct technical feasibility assessments of new opportunities — evaluating whether emerging concepts, RFPs, or mission requirements are viable within your focus area and what approach they would require
- Serve as a cross-functional technical contributor across Special Programs efforts outside your core focus area when program needs require it
- Collaborate with program leads, other Special Programs engineers, and broader Archer engineering teams to align technical approaches with program timelines and constraints
- Produce technical documentation, trade studies, and analysis packages supporting both design maturity reviews and opportunity/capture decisions
- Represent Special Programs work in your focus area in internal reviews and, as needed, in discussions with government stakeholders
What You’ll Need
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field (advanced degree a plus)
- Demonstrated experience developing or validating mission-level behaviors, tactics, or decision-making logic for autonomous or semi-autonomous aerospace/defense systems
- Familiarity with behavior modeling, simulation environments, and scenario-based test and validation approaches
- Demonstrated ability to work across the full development lifecycle — concept through prototype — in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment
- Experience or strong aptitude for evaluating technical feasibility of early-stage concepts, not just executing against defined requirements
- Comfort operating as a generalist when needed — willingness and ability to contribute outside your core focus area in support of program needs
- Ability to work independently with significant technical ownership and no direct-report support structure
- 8–12 years of relevant engineering experience (or equivalent demonstrated experience in rapid-prototyping / advanced-programs environments)
- Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee), as defined by ITAR/EAR
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
What Makes This Role Different
This isn’t a seat on Archer’s core advanced behaviors team. Special Programs engineers are chosen for deep discipline expertise and the versatility to support wherever a program needs it — from early opportunity evaluation to hands-on prototype work across disciplines. You’ll have significant technical ownership and autonomy, working in a small team built to move fast on some of Archer’s most forward-looking defense efforts.
At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent with the skills and leadership needed to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $138,200 - $190,100. Actual compensation offered will be determined by 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
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Computer Science, Robotics, or related field
- Advanced degree (Master's/PhD) in relevant field
- 8-12 years of relevant engineering experience or equivalent rapid-prototyping experience
- Demonstrated experience developing or validating mission-level behaviors, tactics, or decision-making logic for autonomous or semi-autonomous aerospace/defense systems
- Familiarity with behavior modeling, simulation environments, and scenario-based test and validation approaches
- Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing and flight test support
- Ability to work across full development lifecycle from concept through prototype in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments
- Experience or strong aptitude for evaluating technical feasibility of early-stage concepts
- Comfort operating as a generalist and contributing outside core focus when needed
- Ability to work independently with significant technical ownership and without direct-report support
- Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR/EAR
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
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.
