Y Combinator Mass Properties Engineer
Summary
Engineer aircraft mass properties for Archer’s all-electric eVTOL aircraft, tracking weight, balance, and inertia data to support flight performance and FAA certification.
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.
This isn't a desk job. You'll get hands-on with actual aircraft, manage data that directly influences flight performance, and see your work take to the skies.
Own Critical Data Programs
- Lead day-to-day execution of mass properties programs across multiple aircraft platforms
- Build and maintain the master database tracking weight, CG, and inertia for all aircraft variants—the single source of truth for the entire engineering organization
- Partner with design, structures, and systems teams to validate mass assumptions and drive weight optimization decisions
- Manage the evolution of mass data from early estimates through measured flight hardware—you'll track every component's journey
- Conduct aircraft inspections and lead weighing operations—this role gets you on the factory floor and around actual aircraft
- Execute weight and balance audits that ensure flight safety and performance targets
- Prepare documentation and analysis supporting FAA certification activities
- Ensure all mass properties data meets regulatory requirements for weight and balance compliance
- Implement tools and workflows that make data collection faster, more accurate, and more useful to the team
- Identify opportunities to improve how we track and communicate mass properties across the program
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience)
- 5-10 years of experience in mass properties, weight engineering, or related disciplines on aircraft or aerospace vehicle programs
- Strong understanding of weight and balance principles for dynamic systems
- Exceptional organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail—you naturally catch discrepancies others miss
- Comfortable moving between analytical work and hands-on data collection
- Effective communicator who can translate technical data for cross-functional audiences
- Proficiency with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA) for extracting mass properties from 3D models
- Experience with ARP4754A certification processes
- Direct experience conducting aircraft weighing operations or physical inspections
- Background with eVTOL, rotorcraft, or novel aircraft configurations
- Familiarity with database management or mass properties-specific software
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 $170,000.00 - $215,000.00. 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.