Powertrain Architect — Hybrid-Electric Propulsion

Engg; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer, an aerospace and defense innovator based in San Jose, seeks a Powertrain Architect to size and integrate a next-gen hybrid-electric propulsion system for an eVTOL, collaborating with vehicle and structures teams.

You will trade architectures, size motors and thermal systems, model battery behavior, and build powertrain models for Archer's vehicle-level MDO stack, contributing to overall performance.

Qualifications

• Background in hybrid-electric, turbo-electric, or conventional turbine aircraft propulsion.
• Experience with multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO).
• Experience in at least two areas: electromagnetic sizing of motors/generators; thermal management system sizing; battery modeling.
• Proficiency with electromagnetic design tools such as ANSYS Maxwell, Motor-CAD, JMAG, or similar is desired.
• Proficiency with thermal/CFD design tools such as ANSYS Icepak, Fluent, or similar is desired.
• Strong Python proficiency for powertrain modeling and trade studies is strongly preferred.
• Turboshaft/turbine integration experience is desired.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and trade hybrid-electric powertrain architectures (series, parallel, turbo-electric), integrating battery energy storage and electric motors/inverters, with a turboshaft-driven generator as one configuration.
• Size electric motors and generators from first principles, validating designs with electromagnetic solvers as needed.
• Size the thermal management system architecture for all major powertrain components, using thermal/CFD tools.
• Generate performance and efficiency maps for electric motors and generators across the operating envelope.
• Model battery charge and discharge behavior to inform sizing and duty-cycle decisions.
• Estimate thermal limits and duty cycles for motors, inverters, and batteries across representative mission profiles.
• Build powertrain models suitable for integration into Archer's vehicle-level MDO stack.
• Collaborate with structures and vehicle architects on packaging, weight, and integration of the full powertrain stack.

Skills

Hybrid-electric propulsion

Turbo-electric propulsion

Electromagnetic sizing

Thermal management sizing

Battery modeling

Powertrain modeling

Python proficiency

Turboshaft integration

Aerospace propulsion background

Education

Aerospace engineering degree

Tools

ANSYS Maxwell

Motor-CAD

JMAG

ANSYS Icepak

Fluent

Job description

Archer is an aerospace and defense company headquartered in San Jose, California, building the aircraft and technology that will define the next era of flight. The company works across air taxis, UAS, AI and powertrain development — building real-world systems that combine software intelligence with physical hardware. That includes Midnight, Archer's all-electric air taxi; Halo, an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft built for both commercial and defense use; and ZEE, Archer's AI foundation model built specifically for aviation. We’re seeking exceptional engineers, operators and builders to join us on our mission to build the future of aerospace and defense. 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.

THE ROLE

As Powertrain Architect, you will evaluate and size the hybrid-electric propulsion system for a next-generation eVTOL — spanning combustion engine selection, electromagnetic sizing, thermal management, and battery behavior — and contribute the resulting models into Archer's broader vehicle-level sizing and optimization stack. You will work closely with the Vehicle and Structures Architects to close the powertrain within the overall vehicle concept.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Evaluate and trade hybrid-electric powertrain architectures (series, parallel, turbo-electric), integrating battery energy storage and electric motors/inverters, with a turboshaft-driven generator as one of the configurations considered.
• Size electric motors and generators from first principles, validating and refining designs with electromagnetic solvers as needed.
• Size the thermal management system architecture — heat exchangers, ducting, and coolant line routing — for all major powertrain components, using thermal/CFD tools as needed.
• Generate performance and efficiency maps for electric motors and generators across the operating envelope.
• Model battery charge and discharge behavior (C-rates, thermal behavior, degradation) to inform sizing and duty-cycle decisions.
• Estimate thermal limits and duty cycles for motors, inverters, and batteries across representative mission profiles.
• Build powertrain models suitable for integration into Archer's larger vehicle-level MDO stack, supporting the vehicle-level sizing and performance predictions led by the Vehicle Architect.
• Collaborate with the structures and vehicle architects on packaging, weight, and integration of the full powertrain stack.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Background in hybrid-electric, turbo-electric, or conventional turbine aircraft propulsion (aerospace or adjacent high-power industries).
• Some background in optimization, including multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO), is necessary.
• Experience in at least two of the following three areas is required: electromagnetic sizing of motors/generators; thermal management system sizing; battery modeling (equivalent-circuit or electrochemical).
• Proficiency with electromagnetic design tools such as ANSYS Maxwell, Motor-CAD, JMAG, or similar is desired.
• Proficiency with thermal/CFD design tools such as ANSYS Icepak, Fluent, or similar is desired.
• Strong Python proficiency for powertrain modeling and trade studies is strongly preferred.
• Turboshaft/turbine integration experience is desired.

At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent with the skills and leadership needed to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s strategy.

For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $172,800 - $237,600. Actual compensation offered will be determined by 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.

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.