Lead Platform Design & Integration Engineer – Special Programs

Archer is an aerospace and defense company headquartered in San Jose California building the aircraft and technology that will define the next era of flight. The company works across air taxis UAS AI and powertrain development building real-world systems that combine software intelligence with physical hardware. That includes Midnight Archers all-electric air taxi; Halo an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft built for both commercial and defense use; and ZEE Archers AI foundation model built specifically for aviation. Were seeking exceptional engineers operators and builders to join us on our mission to build the future of aerospace and defense.

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 Archers 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 Platform Design & Integration brings deep integration and configuration design expertise as their organic core competency owning how prototype vehicles come together as a whole from configuration layout through cross-discipline integration.

What Youll Do

• Lead vehicle-level integration and configuration design for prototype vehicles including overall configuration layout packaging and cross-discipline interface management
• Support rapid prototyping efforts end-to-end from concept configuration through detailed integration build support and test
• Own the integration and design discipline within Special Programs setting technical approach standards and integration methods used across the programs vehicle-level 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 Youll Need

• Bachelors degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering (advanced degree a plus)
• Demonstrated experience in vehicle-level configuration design and cross-discipline integration for aerospace platforms
• Familiarity with interface control configuration management and whole-vehicle trade studies
• 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
• 812 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
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

What Makes This Role Different

This isnt a seat on Archers core integration & design 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. Youll have significant technical ownership and autonomy working in a small team built to move fast on some of Archers 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 Companys strategy. For this position we are targeting a base pay range of $138200 - $190100. Actual compensation offered will be determined by job-related knowledge skills and experience.