Mass Properties Engineer

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer, based in San Jose, California, is seeking a Mass Properties Engineer to ensure successful weight and balance programs for their electric aircraft. This role involves hands-on work with aircraft, managing critical data, and collaborating with various teams.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and 5–10 years of relevant experience. Archer fosters an inclusive environment and is committed to diversity.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in mass properties or weight engineering.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a meticulous attention to detail.
• Comfortable switching between analytical work and hands-on data collection.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of mass properties programs across various aircraft platforms.
• Validate mass assumptions and drive optimization decisions with design teams.
• Conduct aircraft inspections and manage weighing operations.

Skills

Weight and balance principles

Data collection

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or related STEM field

Tools

CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA)

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.

Join Archer Aviation's Mass Properties team and play a critical role in bringing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from concept to certified reality. As a Mass Properties Engineer, you'll be the backbone of our weight and balance programs—ensuring every gram counts as we push the boundaries of sustainable urban air mobility.

This isn't a desk job. You'll get hands‑on with actual aircraft, manage data that directly influences flight performance, and see your work take to the skies.

What You'll Do

Own Critical Data Programs

• Lead day-to-day execution of mass properties programs across multiple aircraft platforms
• Build and maintain the master database tracking weight, CG, and inertia for all aircraft variants—the single source of truth for the entire engineering organization

Bridge Design and Reality

• Partner with design, structures, and systems teams to validate mass assumptions and drive weight optimization decisions
• Manage the evolution of mass data from early estimates through measured flight hardware—you'll track every component's journey

Get Hands-On with Aircraft

• Conduct aircraft inspections and lead weighing operations—this role gets you on the factory floor and around actual aircraft
• Execute weight and balance audits that ensure flight safety and performance targets

Support Certification & Compliance

• Prepare documentation and analysis supporting FAA certification activities
• Ensure all mass properties data meets regulatory requirements for weight and balance compliance

Drive Process Innovation

• Implement tools and workflows that make data collection faster, more accurate, and more useful to the team
• Identify opportunities to improve how we track and communicate mass properties across the program

What You'll Bring

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience)
• 5–10 years of experience in mass properties, weight engineering, or related disciplines on aircraft or aerospace vehicle programs
• Strong understanding of weight and balance principles for dynamic systems
• Exceptional organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail—you naturally catch discrepancies others miss
• Comfortable moving between analytical work and hands‑on data collection
• Effective communicator who can translate technical data for cross‑functional audiences

Preferred

• Proficiency with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA) for extracting mass properties from 3D models
• Experience with ARP4754A certification processes
• Direct experience conducting aircraft weighing operations or physical inspections
• Background with eVTOL, rotorcraft, or novel aircraft configurations
• Familiarity with database management or mass properties‑specific software

At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possesses the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $170,000.00 and $215,000.00. 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. 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.