Senior Blade Structures Engineer

AlleyCorp; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer Aviation in San Jose, CA, seeks an experienced blade design engineer to lead high performance propeller blade design for eVTOL aircraft. You will collaborate with aerodynamics and loads teams, perform structural analysis, and guide material selection and manufacturing processes.

You will release drawings, write stress reports, and support FAA certification discussions, while coordinating with internal and external customers to ensure timely data delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Aerospace or related field.
• 5+ years industry experience.
• Proven expertise in helicopter rotor or propeller blade design.
• CAD design and lofting experience (NX preferred).
• Experience with Nastran (MSC or NX) and Patran/FEMAP.
• Composite damage tolerance and fatigue experience.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Experience in a fast-paced design environment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with aerodynamics and loads & dynamics teams to design high performance propeller blades for eVTOL aircraft.
• Be responsible for blade structural design and supporting analysis.
• Provide blade properties to the loads & dynamics team.
• Support blade material selection and manufacturing process development.
• Release blade drawings.
• Author stress analysis reports.
• Support development and certification testing to validate static load capability and fatigue life of blade designs.
• Support certification discussions with the FAA.
• Collaborate with internal and external customers to ensure on time delivery of data.

Skills

Blade design

CAD NX

FEM/structural analysis

Fatigue analysis

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace or related field

Tools

NX CAD

Nastran/Patran/FEMAP

RCAS

CAMRAD II

DYMORE

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.

What you’ll do:

• Collaborate with the aerodynamics and loads & dynamics teams to design high performance propeller blades for eVTOL aircraft
• Be responsible for the blade structural design and supporting analysis
• Provide blade properties to the loads & dynamics team
• Support blade material selection and corresponding manufacturing process development
• Release blade drawings
• Author stress analysis reports
• Support development and certification testing to validate static load capability and fatigue life of blade designs
• Support certification discussions with the FAA
• Collaborate with internal and external customers to ensure on time delivery of data

What you need:

• Bachelors in Aerospace or related fields
• 5+ years industry experience
• Proven expertise in helicopter rotor or propeller blade design
• CAD design and lofting experience (NX preferred)
• Experience with Nastran (MSC or NX) and Patran/FEMAP
• Composite damage tolerance and fatigue experience
• Demonstrated organizational skills to bring together small multidisciplinary teams on high impact, but time limited projects.
• Strong technical, written, and verbal communication skills
• Experience in a fast-paced design environment

Bonus Qualifications:

• MS /PhD in Aerospace or related fields
• Familiar with FAA aircraft and/or rotorcraft loads and dynamics regulations (FAR Part 23, 27, 33, 35) and associated advisory materials.
• Experience with static and dynamic loads derivation for fixed-wing vehicles and/or rotorcraft, with focus on rotor loads
• Experience with comprehensive rotor analysis software (RCAS / CAMRAD II / FlightLab / DYMORE or similar codes)

At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possess the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s business strategy. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $150,000 - $185,000. 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.

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.