Airborne Electronic Hardware Systems Engineer

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer, based in San Jose, California, is seeking an Airborne Electronic Hardware Systems Engineer to shape engineering processes for our cutting-edge electric aircraft. This pivotal role involves working alongside circuit designers to ensure compliance with airborne certification standards and develop critical hardware systems.

The successful candidate will have a robust electrical engineering background, 5+ years of relevant experience, and a commitment to collaborative design. We offer a pay range of $144,000 to $180,000 based on expertise and experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hardware systems or design engineering experience in regulated industries.
• Hands-on technical background in inverters, power converters, motor drives, or battery management systems.
• Familiarity with circuit-level analyses—WCCA, derating, stress analysis.

Responsibilities

• Partner with hardware designers to define and trace requirements using tools.
• Review critical design analyses including DFMEAs and thermal assessments.
• Develop hardware development plans and verification strategies.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

Power Electronics

Safety-critical Hardware

Technical Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Polarion

DOORS

Job description

Airborne Electronic Hardware Systems Engineer

San Jose, California, United States

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.

Job Description

Join the hardware team as an Airborne Electronic Hardware (AEH) Systems Engineer to establish engineering processes and certification framework for our electronics hardware spanning inverter and battery management system (BMS) development. Embedded within the design team, you will work with circuit designers to define requirements, build structured development workflows, review technical analyses, and ensure hardware meets airborne certification standards. This foundational role defines how we develop certifiable hardware at scale, building the templates, plans, and practices the team will rely on.

What you’ll do

• Partner with Inverter and BMS hardware designers to define, manage, and trace requirements using tools like Polarion or DOORS
• Establish and maintain standardized design templates, review checklists (schematics, layouts, BOMs), and documentation practices across both hardware domains
• Review critical design analyses including DFMEAs, WCCA, margin/derating, thermal assessments, and protection function analyses relevant to both motor drive and battery management hardware
• Develop hardware development plans, verification strategies, and AEH certification artifacts in line with DO-254 and applicable airworthiness requirements
• Lead design reviews and ensure requirements are correctly implemented, traceable, and justified for certification
• Support definition of safety requirements flowing down from system-level analyses (ARP4754A, ARP4761) into inverter and BMS hardware
• Help build a scalable certification process that can grow with the team and apply consistently across power electronics hardware programs

What you need

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of hardware systems or design engineering experience in regulated industries, with a focus on power electronics or safety-critical hardware
• Hands‑on technical background in inverters, power converters, motor drives, or battery management systems
• Experience with structured hardware development processes such as DO-254
• Familiarity with circuit-level analyses—WCCA, derating, stress analysis, protection coordination
• Experience with requirements management tools (Polarion, DOORS, or similar)
• Strong technical communication and documentation skills
• Comfortable working as a peer within a design team rather than as an external reviewer

Bonus Qualifications

• Direct DO-254 and DO-160G experience
• Knowledge of SAE ARP4754A and ARP4761 (FMEA, FTA)
• Experience with high‑power inverter systems and BMS hardware: cell monitoring, balancing, protection circuits, or isolation measurement
• Passion for aviation and eVTOLs

At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possesses 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 $144,000 - $180,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Accommodations

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. If you may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Archer’s People Team.

Legal Notice

Archer is unable to provide work visa sponsorship for this position at the present time. Archer Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies or individual recruiters without a prior written agreement. Archer reserves the right to use unsolicited resumes. The Carrier maintains its standard employment policy.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.