Y Combinator Principal Airframe Architect
Summary
Lead the design and development of an all-electric aircraft’s airframe, from concept to flight test, balancing weight, cost, and manufacturability while mentoring engineers.
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.
What you’ll do:
- Lead airframe development from concept through build and flight test, collaborating with the Chief Engineer and program leaders to meet target requirements.
- Evaluate and trade structural layouts and material selections across candidate configurations for weight, manufacturability, and cost.
- Develop conceptual airframe architecture and parametric structural weight models for fuselage, wing, tail, and nacelle structures.
- Size major structural components using classical analytical methods and/or conceptual FEM.
- Apply in depth understanding of load paths, design best practices, and hand calcs to design robust, manufacturable, and cost effective structural configurations.
- Mentor junior engineers on design, analysis, and manufacturing techniques.
- Own the validation and verification of airframe requirements.
What you need:
- 15+ years of experience with innovative aircraft structures, including leadership within a recent civil or military aircraft development program.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- In depth understanding of load paths, laminate design fundamentals, metallic design fundamentals and analysis methods (FEA, closed form solutions for sandwich panel stability, lug and fastener hand calcs, etc.)
- Broad experience across a range of airframe structures (fuselage, wing, pylons, empennage)
- Strong CAD skills in NX (preferred), Solidworks, Catia or Creo
- Hands-on manufacturing experience with composites (wet-lay, prepreg, autoclave, bonding, drilling/fastening) and machining metallic parts (milling, lathe, drilling).
- Experience with analyzing and dispositioning non-conformances
- Self-starter, team player, and desire to work in a fast-paced environment
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 $242,800 - $322,100. Actual compensation offered will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Information collected and processed as part of any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Archer's Candidate Privacy Policy.
Archer is unable to provide work visa sponsorship for this position at the present time.
Archer is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Archer Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters with whom it does not have a prior written agreement. Archer reserves the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes that it receives and bears no responsibility for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes. If you are a recruiting agency or individual recruiter wishing to do business with Archer, please reach out to People@archer.com. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.
As published by greenhouse
First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV, Cover Letter, Location
- LinkedIn Profile optional
- Website optional
- What are your base ($USD) expectations? written answer
- Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? choose one
- Will you now, or at any point during your employment, require Archer to sponsor or petition for a nonimmigrant work visa status on your behalf? (Please note: If you hold a temporary or nonimmigrant status or work authorization, including but not limited to F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, H-1B, H-4, J-1, L-1, or EAD, please respond with "Yes" so that Archer can determine whether future sponsorship actions may be needed.) choose one
- Consistent with company policy, employees are expected to report to work onsite at our offices. Are you open to relocating to our corporate headquarters in San Jose, CA? choose one
- Were you referred to Archer by a current employee? choose one
- If you were referred, please provide the name of the employee. written answer
- By selecting YES, I consent to receive recruiting SMS messages from Archer Aviation at the phone number provided on above. choose one · optional