Associate General Counsel, Employment

Archer; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 294,000 - 367,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer Aviation, based in San Jose, California, seeks an Associate General Counsel, Head of Employment to lead global employment law strategy and operations. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will partner with People and business leaders to scale our worldwide workforce while protecting trade secrets and ensuring regulatory compliance.

You will refine policies, oversee internal investigations, manage cross-border compliance, and guide product and government contracting teams on HR matters.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and bar admission in California (or eligible).
• 12+ years of employment law experience, ideally mix of law firm and in-house in high-growth environments.
• Strong investigations, cross-border compliance, and trade secret protection expertise.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive legal guidance on global employment matters including hiring, compensation, performance management, and wage-hour compliance.
• Refine and scale company policies, handbooks, and employment agreements for a rapidly growing organization.
• Lead internal investigations and standardized protocols while balancing legal protection and culture.
• Oversee risk mitigation, trade secrets protection, and international expansion strategies.
• Support cross-functional teams on product development, regulatory compliance, and government contracting.

Skills

EQ & collaboration

Investigation management

Regulatory compliance

Strategic partnership

People leadership

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

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.

Associate General Counsel, Head of Employment

Archer Aviation is seeking an experienced, highly-motivated to join our Legal team. This is a critical role designed for a legal professional who thrives at the intersection of law, strategy, and operations. Reporting to Archer's General Counsel, you will serve as a key partner to the People team and business leaders, providing the legal framework and operational support necessary to scale our global workforce. The ideal candidate has a "roll-up-the-sleeves" mentality and a high degree of emotional intelligence. You aren't just an advisor in a traditional legal silo; you are a builder and an operator who will help refine our existing structures and create new ones as we expand. We are looking for someone who thrives with speed, and the inherent dynamic nature of a high-growth, innovative, and evolving workplace.

What You’ll Do

• Strategic & Operational Partnership: Provide proactive, practical legal advice on the full spectrum of global employment matters, including hiring, compensation, performance management, and wage and hour compliance. You will work in the trenches to translate legal requirements into efficient, scalable business processes.
• Refine and Scale Infrastructure: Review and enhance existing company policies, handbooks, and employment agreements. You will identify opportunities to hone our current structures to support a rapidly growing, global organization.
• Investigations & Resolution: Take a primary role in refining and executing our internal investigations process. This includes developing standardized investigation protocols and conducting sensitive investigations into workplace matters with a balanced, objective approach that prioritizes both legal protection and company culture.
• Asset Protection & Risk Mitigation: Lead internal and external threat assessment and mitigation strategies, with a specific focus on protecting trade secrets and company intellectual property.
• Global Expansion: Drive the legal and operational strategy for international growth, managing the complexities of global mobility, PEO/EOR frameworks, and cross-border compliance.
• Cross-Functional Support: Act as a versatile resource for the broader organization, providing guidance on matters ranging from product development, risk assessments, government contract frameworks and regulatory compliance.

What You Bring

• The Experience: A J.D. degree and a minimum of 12+ years of employment law experience, preferably with a mix of top-tier law firm and in-house experience in a high-growth environment.
• Investigation Expertise: Proven track record of conducting and overseeing complex, sensitive internal investigations from inception to resolution.
• California & Global Expertise: Deep knowledge of California employment law is required. Experience with global expansion, trade secret litigation, and government contracting is highly preferred.
• High EQ & Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You should be able to build strong relationships across the company and navigate complex human dynamics with professionalism and tact.
• Adaptability: A genuine interest in a fast-paced environment. You are comfortable making sound decisions amidst inherent shifting priorities and can pivot quickly as business needs evolve.
• Analytical Rigor: Proven ability to manage the end-to-end HR legal function, using sound business judgment to balance risk mitigation with commercial objectives.
• Credentials: Licensed to practice law in California (or eligible to register as In-House Counsel).

Why Archer?

This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the future of flight. You will join a high-performing team where your contributions go beyond standard legal review. This is a position for a professional who wants to be a foundational part of a transformative company and who finds fulfillment in building the systems that create a great workplace. 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 $293,900 - $367,400. 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. 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.

All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.