Senior Lead, Autonomous Behaviors & Mission Algorithms

Archer Technologies International, Incorporated; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer Technologies International, Incorporated in San Jose, CA, is seeking a Lead Special Programs Engineer for Advanced Behaviors & Algorithms. You will design and validate mission-level behaviors for prototype vehicles, and support rapid prototyping through hardware-in-the-loop and flight tests.

This role requires deep discipline expertise, ownership, and ability to work across disciplines in a small, fast-paced team. U.S. security clearance eligibility is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field (advanced degree a plus).
• Demonstrated experience developing or validating mission-level behaviors, tactics, or decision-making logic for autonomous or semi-autonomous aerospace/defense systems.
• Familiarity with behavior modeling, simulation environments, and scenario-based test and validation approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to work across the full development lifecycle - concept through prototype - in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment.
• Experience or strong aptitude for evaluating technical feasibility of early-stage concepts, not just executing against defined requirements.
• Comfort operating as a generalist when needed - willingness and ability to contribute outside your core focus area in support of program needs.
• Ability to work independently with significant technical ownership and no direct-report support structure.
• 8-12 years of relevant engineering experience (or equivalent demonstrated experience in rapid-prototyping / advanced-programs environments).
• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee), as defined by ITAR/EAR.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and validation of advanced mission behaviors for prototype vehicles, including behavior architectures, decision logic, and scenario-based validation.
• Support rapid prototyping end-to-end, from concept behaviors and simulation through hardware-in-the-loop test and flight test support.
• Own the advanced behaviors discipline within Special Programs - setting technical approach, standards, and validation methods used across the program’s behavior 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

Mission-level behaviors

Autonomous systems

Decision-making logic

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Aerospace degree

Computer Science

Robotics

Job description

Archer Technologies International, Incorporated in San Jose, CA, is seeking a Lead Special Programs Engineer for Advanced Behaviors & Algorithms. You will design and validate mission-level behaviors for prototype vehicles, and support rapid prototyping through hardware-in-the-loop and flight tests.

This role requires deep discipline expertise, ownership, and ability to work across disciplines in a small, fast-paced team. U.S. security clearance eligibility is required.