Senior Flight Test Engineer

Archer; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer in Silicon Valley seeks a Senior Flight Test Engineer to lead ground and flight test campaigns for Halo and Thunder. You will plan tests, coordinate with remote station operators and autonomy engineers, and mentor junior engineers as we advance toward first flight.

You will collaborate with engineering, certification and quality teams to define test objectives, monitor configurations, and ensure safety risk management and regulatory compliance across campaigns.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of flight test operations or aerospace testing experience.
• Experience with safety risk management in flight testing or complex operations.
• Proficiency in configuration management and planning/ executing tests in cert or military programs.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams in a test or development environment.
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare development and company ground and flight test plans for Halo and Thunder campaigns.
• Run flight test cards through sim with remote operators and autonomy engineers for optimization.
• Participate in Flight Test Safety Risk Management processes.
• Prepare test operating limitations and advisories with engineering disciplines.
• Collaborate with engineering, certification, and quality to define and achieve test objectives.
• Monitor and document test article configuration, maintenance, and modifications during campaigns.
• Participate in safety risk management activities and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Maintain flight test instrumentation and data acquisition systems for accurate data collection.

Skills

Flight test operations

Aerospace testing

Safety risk management

Configuration management

Lead multidisciplinary teams

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Archer is a leader in the next‑gen aerospace sector building an end‑to‑end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems(“UAS”), aviation‑related physical artificial intelligence(“AI”) solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors.

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.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Flight Test Engineer to join our Flight Test and Operational Safety team in support of Halo and Thunder — Archer’s dual‑use autonomous VTOL aircraft. This role will plan and execute ground and flight test campaigns, lead safety risk management activities, and mentor junior engineers as we advance Halo and Thunder toward first flight.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare development and Company ground and flight test plans supporting Halo and Thunder flight test campaigns
• Run flight test cards through sim with remote/ground control station operators and autonomy engineers for optimization
• Participate in all aspects of the Flight Test Safety Risk Management process
• Prepare test operating limitations and advisories in collaboration with the appropriate engineering disciplines
• Collaborate closely with engineering, certification, and quality teams to ensure test objectives are clearly defined and achieved
• Monitor and document test article configuration, maintenance activities, and modifications during Halo and Thunder test campaigns
• Participate in safety risk management activities and help maintain compliance with applicable safety standards
• Help maintain flight test instrumentation and data acquisition systems, supporting accurate data collection

What You Need

• Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Engineering, or a related field
• 4+ years of experience in flight test operations, aerospace testing, or a related technical role
• 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
• Exceptional collaboration and interpersonal skills
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment

Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications.

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 $120,400 - $165,600. 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 .

Certain positions may be eligible for visa sponsorship.

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. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.