Lead Flight Test Engineer - Electric Air Mobility

Archer; Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer, an aerospace company based in San Jose, California, is seeking a senior Flight Test Engineer to lead certification and flight-test activities for all-electric VTOL development. The role involves preparing test plans, running simulations, and collaborating with engineering, certification, and quality teams to meet flight test objectives.

You will mentor junior engineers, manage test configurations, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance across test campaigns while coordinating data

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in flight test operations or aerospace testing.
• Strong knowledge of airworthiness certification flight test programs and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with safety risk management processes related to flight testing or complex operational testing.
• Proficiency in configuration management and planning/executing ground and flight tests within certification or military projects.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams or organizations within a test or development environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare development, Company, and FAA Certification Ground and Flight test plans.
• Prepare Flight Test Cards and assemble flight decks for approval and use.
• Run flight decks in sims with flight crew for optimization.
• Participate in all aspects of the Flight Test Safety Risk Management process.
• Prepare test operating limitations and advisories in collaboration with engineering disciplines.
• Mentor Jr. engineers in Flight Test processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, certification, and quality teams to ensure test objectives are defined and achieved.
• Monitor and document test article configuration, maintenance, and modifications during test campaigns.
• Participate in safety risk management activities and help maintain compliance with safety standards.
• Help maintain flight test instrumentation and data acquisition systems, supporting accurate data collection.

Skills

Flight test operations

Regulatory knowledge

Team leadership

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Archer, an aerospace company based in San Jose, California, is seeking a senior Flight Test Engineer to lead certification and flight-test activities for all-electric VTOL development. The role involves preparing test plans, running simulations, and collaborating with engineering, certification, and quality teams to meet flight test objectives.

You will mentor junior engineers, manage test configurations, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance across test campaigns while coordinating data