Design Lead, Airframe

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer in San Jose seeks a Design Lead for the Airframe team. You will own the development of airframe hardware from concept through production, ensuring compliance with design, performance, and regulatory standards.

Reporting to the Airframe IPT Lead, you will coordinate with avionics and propulsion teams, manage requirements and traceability, and drive detailed work plans to support project execution in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace/mechanical engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of airframe design and development experience.
• Familiarity with aircraft certification processes (Part 23/25/27).

Responsibilities

• Technical execution: develop airframe hardware from concept to production; define approach and parameters.
• Collaborate with IPT Leads and other design leads; interface with avionics and propulsion teams.
• Support requirements allocation and traceability between system requirements and design.
• Break down work into tasks; estimate effort, coordinate resources, and plan execution.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Mechanical engineering

CAD NX

Systems engineering

Requirements management

Certification knowledge (Part 23/25/27

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX CAD

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.

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Design Lead for our Airframe team. Accountable to the Airframe IPT Lead, the Design Lead will be responsible for the development and delivery of specific airframe hardware elements, providing technical oversight, supporting collaboration efforts, and managing execution of their assigned work package. This role will focus on a major subassembly of the airframe from concept through production, ensuring compliance with design, performance requirements, and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Execution: Develop assigned airframe hardware elements from concept through to production, defining the technical approach for your work package, establishing design parameters, managing the development process, and resolving technical challenges within your scope.

Team Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate and coordinate with the IPT Lead and other Design Leads, as well as interfacing with other program teams (e.g., avionics, propulsion) to ensure seamless integration of your hardware element through regular meetings, status updates, and information sharing.

Requirements Management and Systems Engineering Support: Work closely with the IPT Lead and Systems Engineering team to ensure appropriate requirements are allocated to your hardware elements. This includes participating in requirements reviews, clarifying technical specifications, and ensuring traceability between system-level requirements and your work package design.

Task Planning and Execution: Break down work package objectives into actionable tasks, identifying specific activities, estimating effort and duration, coordinating resources, and developing detailed work plans to support the IPT Lead and Project Manager in effective project planning, execution, monitoring, and control.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• 7+ years of experience in airframe design and development
• Strong first-principles approach to the design and implementation of efficient load paths
• Demonstrated experience contributing to technical projects and hardware development efforts
• Familiarity with aircraft certification processes (Part 23, Part 25, or Part 27)
• Understanding of composite airframe structures, materials, and manufacturing processes
• Proficiency with CAD software (NX Preferred)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field
• Experience with eVTOL, rotorcraft, or urban air mobility systems
• Knowledge of electric aircraft systems and integration challenges
• Experience supporting certification of novel aircraft configurations
• Previous experience working within an Integrated Product Team structure

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 [e-mail]. 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 [e-mail]. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.