Lead Structures Engineer, Special Programs (Aerospace)

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

Job summary

Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise.

The Lead Special Programs Engineer - Structures Integration leads deep structural engineering efforts for prototype vehicles, overseeing airframe structures, loads, and substantiation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering (advanced degree a plus).
• Experience in aerospace structural design and analysis, including airframe structures and loads.
• Proficiency with structural analysis tools and methods (FEM/FEA, hand-calculation).
• Experience across the full development lifecycle—from concept to prototype— in a fast-paced setting.
• Ability to evaluate feasibility of early-stage concepts, not just execute defined requirements.
• Willingness to contribute outside core focus to support program needs.
• Strong independent work capability with ownership and no direct-report structure.
• 8–12 years of relevant engineering experience or equivalent rapid-prototyping/advanced-programs exposure.
• U.S. Person and ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural design and analysis for prototype vehicles and systems, including airframe structures, loads (V-n diagrams, wing loads, fuselage loads, landing gear), and structural substantiation.
• Support rapid prototyping efforts end-to-end, from concept sketches through detailed design, analysis, and test support.
• Own the structural discipline within Special Programs — setting technical approach, standards, and analysis methods used across the program's structural work.
• Conduct technical feasibility assessments of new opportunities - evaluating whether emerging concepts, RFPs, or mission requirements are viable within your focus area and what approach they would require.
• Serve as a cross-functional technical contributor across Special Programs efforts outside your core focus area when program needs require it.
• Collaborate with program leads, other Special Programs engineers, and broader Archer engineering teams to align technical approaches with program timelines and constraints.
• Produce technical documentation, trade studies, and analysis packages supporting both design maturity reviews and opportunity/capture decisions.
• Represent Special Programs work in your focus area in internal reviews and, as needed, in discussions with government stakeholders.

Skills

Airframe design

Structural analysis

FEM/FEA

Independent ownership

Cross-functional collaboration

Feasibility assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering

Tools

FEA software

Hand calculations

Documentation and trade studies

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 sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise.

The Lead Special Programs Engineer - Structures Integration leads deep structural engineering efforts for prototype vehicles, overseeing airframe structures, loads, and substantiation.