Staff Program Manager, Structural Validation

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer in San Jose, California is seeking a Staff Program Manager for the Structural Validation team to coordinate internal teams, external testing vendors, and customer partners. The role focuses on delivering test plans, schedules, and technical performance that meet program requirements.

You will build cross‑functional relationships, lead gate meetings, manage risks, and drive on‑time execution across engineering, supply chain, and operations to ensure successful program delivery.

Qualifications

• Understanding of design, development, test and production of mechanical systems.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent industry experience.
• Demonstrated ability to distill complex development processes for executive reviews.
• 5+ years in product and program leadership and management roles.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships across Archer teams and external partners involved in deployments.
• Act as primary interface between Structural Validation, Engineering, Program Management, and Supply Chain on test plans and milestones.
• Manage cost, schedule, and technical performance to program requirements and milestones.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team to execute complex development programs within schedule and budget.
• Develop program schedules, lead kickoff/gate meetings, and track milestone progress.

Skills

Mechanical systems knowledge

Project management

Schedule optimization

Supplier relationship management

Microsoft Project/Smartsheet

Ambiguity tolerance

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

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.

As a Staff Program Manager for Structural Validation team, you will be responsible for managing and coordinating efforts between Archer’s Structural Validation team, external structural testing vendors, Structural analyses/FEM team, and product design teams. This is both an internal and external facing cross‑functional role that requires close coordination with Archer Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Supplier or customer teams.

What You’ll Do:

• Build and maintain strong relationships across Archer teams, inclusive of suppliers and customers involved in your areas of deployment. Take action as necessary to optimize the customer experience and continually enhance and improve their relationship with Archer.
• Act as the primary interface between Structural Validation, Engineering, Program Management, and Supply Chain on project deliverables, issues, and resolution for test plans. Escalate to commercial or technical partners when required.
• Primary accountability and responsibilities are the management of cost, schedule, and technical performance to program requirements and milestones for your areas of responsibility. You will openly collaborate with the Engineering Directors and Work Package Managers for the scope defined for your program.
• Develop strong relationships across Archer, inclusive of suppliers, and lead a multidisciplinary team to execute complex development programs within schedule and budget.
• Build program task‑based schedules, lead program kickoff and / or gate meetings, track/report milestone progress against the program management plan.
• Identify and manage program Risks, Issues and Opportunities to closure.
• Identify issues, propose solutions and drive recovery plans to closure.
• Execute within project schedule and budget, tracking expenses, and identifying cost‑savings opportunities.
• Relentlessly drive on‑time execution both internally and at suppliers, finding creative ways to pull in delivery timing.
• Communicate regularly with stakeholders, providing updates on project milestones, risks, and issues.
• Prepare and present project reports, status updates, and performance metrics to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Utilize configuration control and change management to maintain technical discipline of the program.
• Identify areas of improvement or gaps in current processes and develop strategies to promote efficiency and productivity.
• Compare actual performance against planned performance to identify variances, and help manage tasks on the Critical Path.
• Collaborate with program team members and departments to establish plans and schedules that allocate resources to best achieve program requirements and service internal and external client or customer needs.
• Provide guidance and best practices across the organization for planning and scheduling processes, procedures, tools and systems.

What You Need:

• Understanding of design, development, test and production of mechanical systems.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent industry experience.
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex development processes and to distill large amounts of information into executive level reviews.
• A minimum of 5 years related experience involving product and program leadership and management roles.
• Project management experience.
• Analytical capabilities to identify schedule critical paths and optimize engineering / supply chain timelines.
• Familiarization with Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or other scheduling software.
• Demonstrated skills in supplier operational and relationship management.
• Ability to operate in an ambiguous environment with little direction.
• Ability to react to resets and constant changes in a demanding, time‑sensitive environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Knowledge of, and experience within aerospace systems.
• Thorough understanding of engineering product development including design phases, manufacturing processes and global supply chain management.
• Familiarization with Atlassian Jira and Confluence for task management and collaborative documentation.
• Part 23 Certification Experience and/or experience working with ARP4754A.

At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent who 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 $151,680 - $189,600. *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.