Lead Flight Controls & Autopilot Software Engineer

AlleyCorp; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 138,200 - 190,100; Full time

Job summary

Archer is seeking a Lead Special Programs Engineer - Flight Controls & Software in San Jose to drive control law development and embedded autopilot software for prototype aircraft. You will own the flight controls discipline, coordinate across teams, and guide rapid prototyping from concept to flight test support.

The role requires deep experience in flight control law, flight dynamics, and embedded software, plus the ability to work independently in a fast pace setting within a defense-focused

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Controls, Electrical, or Computer Engineering (advanced degree a plus).
• Experience in flight control law development, flight dynamics, or stability and control analysis.
• Experience developing embedded flight control or autopilot software.
• Familiarity with control design, simulation, and embedded software tools.
• Ability to work across the full development lifecycle - concept through prototype - in a fast‑paced, resource‑constrained environment
• Experience evaluating technical feasibility of early‑stage concepts, not just executing defined requirements.
• Willingness and ability to contribute outside core focus area and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead flight control law design and analysis for prototype vehicles, including modeling and stability assessments.
• Lead development of embedded flight control and autopilot software from architecture to flight test support.
• Support rapid prototyping end‑to‑end from concept modeling to hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Own the flight controls and software discipline, setting approaches, standards, and methods.
• Assess technical feasibility of new opportunities and determine required approaches.
• Collaborate across Special Programs and Archer engineering teams to align with timelines.
• Produce technical documentation, trade studies, and analysis packages for reviews.
• Represent Special Programs work in reviews and with government stakeholders.

Skills

Flight control law

Embedded autopilot software

Flight dynamics

Control systems engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Controls, Electrical, or Computer Engineering

Job description

Archer is seeking a Lead Special Programs Engineer - Flight Controls & Software in San Jose to drive control law development and embedded autopilot software for prototype aircraft. You will own the flight controls discipline, coordinate across teams, and guide rapid prototyping from concept to flight test support.

The role requires deep experience in flight control law, flight dynamics, and embedded software, plus the ability to work independently in a fast pace setting within a defense-focused