Sr. Staff Engineer, Vehicle Management System

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer Aviation, based in San Jose, CA, is seeking an experienced engineer to join the Vehicle Management System team. You will help develop VMS for an unmanned defense vehicle, interfacing with flight control computers, power distribution, batteries and engines, and ensuring end-to-end system integration.

The role focuses on defining architectures, validating requirements, and leading technical teams through development, verification, and flight-testing activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years in a related field.
• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace or related field.
• Experience leading technical teams or projects.
• Experience developing requirements specifications for control systems.
• Experience with full-time critical systems development.

Responsibilities

• Propose and evaluate architecture concepts, perform trade-off analyses, and develop fly-by-wire vehicle management system architectures.
• Collaborate with suppliers to select, design and build system components.
• Define and validate system, subsystems, and item requirements; define and execute development and verification plans.
• Design and implement requirements and algorithms for integration of the flight control computer with other system components.
• Perform analyses to support system development.
• Contribute to system integration and flight test campaigns and data analysis.
• Support aircraft integration and flight test activities and troubleshooting.

Skills

Leadership

System requirements

Embedded software

Architectural thinking

Analytical thinking

Agile/SCRUM

Communication

Education

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Aerospace

Tools

RS-422/485

ARINC-429

CAN-FD

Ethernet/TCP-IP

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

SysML/UML

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 We Are Looking For:

We are looking for an experienced engineer to join the Vehicle Management System (VMS) Team at Archer. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for the development of the VMS for an unmanned defense vehicle, which include, among others, flight control computers, state estimation sensors, command and control, communications, navigation, and flight termination subsystems. This role has a strong focus on the development of the VMS and its integration with other aircraft systems, such as high and low voltage power distribution, batteries and engines. Having end-to-end system knowledge and experience is a plus.

What you’ll do:

• Propose and evaluate architecture concepts, perform trade-off analyses, and develop the fly-by-wire vehicle management system functional and physical architectures.
• Work closely with suppliers to select, procure, design and build components for the system.
• Define and validate the system, subsystems, and items requirements, define and execute the development plan, verification plan and procedures.
• Design and implement requirements and algorithms for integration of the flight control computer with remaining system components, including, among others, signal selection, voting, monitoring, and fault detection.
• Perform analyses supporting system development
• Contribute to the integration and test of the system, support aircraft integration and flight test campaigns.
• Analyze flight and lab test data to support new developments and troubleshooting of problems

What you need:

• 10+ years of experience in a related field.
• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace or related field.
• Experience leading technical teams or projects.
• Experience developing requirements specifications for control systems.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement full time critical systems.
• Good understanding of computer architecture, embedded software, communication standards and protocols (RS-422/485, ARINC-429, CAN-FD, Ethernet, TCP/IP etc...).
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Experience with Agile/SCRUM methodologies
• Experience with continuous integration/continuous testing

Bonus Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of fly-by-wire flight control systems or vehicle management systems development and integration
• Familiarity with aircraft or rotorcraft performance and handling qualities requirements
• Experience with modeling physics, sensors, and actuators
• Experience with signal selection and fault detection of redundant inputs
• Technical knowledge of electro-mechanical actuation
• Technical knowledge of aircraft sensors such as AHRS, INS, GNSS, and others such as Air Data Systems and Radar Altimeters
• Familiarity with Matlab/Simulink
• Familiarity with Python or similar scripting languages to conduct analysis.
• Familiarity with modeling tools (SysML/UML).

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 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. 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.