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.

As a Lead System Architecture, you will play a critical role in defining and shaping the aircraft's high-level system architecture, ensuring it meets performance, safety, and certification requirements. You will collaborate cross-functionally to establish the technical foundation for a reliable and certifiable aircraft.

Key responsibilities include:

Develop and maintain high-level system models, functional architectures, and system interfaces.
Conduct operational and functional analysis to inform architecture decisions.
Develop and publish system description documents, detailing architecture and design decisions
Decompose and allocate system requirements, ensuring traceability from operational concepts to detailed design.
Define and manage key technical and programmatic performance measures (e.g., weight, power, cost, system latency).
Guide the integration of hardware and software components into a cohesive system, ensuring alignment with regulatory and certification requirements.
Collaborate with system safety teams to ensure compliance with ARP4761 processes and relevant safety standards.
Support verification efforts, including test planning and system-level evaluations.
Interface with regulators and DERs to develop and review certification substantiation artifacts.
Work closely with the Chief Engineer to align the architecture with overall business and program objectives.

What You Need

10+ years of experience in aerospace system architecture, system engineering, or a related field with complex software and hardware integration.
BS, MS, or PhD in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a comparable discipline.
Deep knowledge of SAE ARP4754 and ARP4761 processes or similar system development and safety standards.
Experience with RTCA DO-178 and DO-254.
Expertise in model-based system engineering (MBSE) methodologies and tools.
Familiarity with requirements management tools such as Polarion.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Demonstrated critical thinking skills and engineering judgment in system-level decision-making.

Bonus Qualifications

Experience in system safety analysis.
Hands-on experience with system integration and testing.
Background in operations, certification, or specialty engineering disciplines.

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 $151,680.00 - $189,600.00. 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 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.

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Lead Systems Architect