Staff QA Engineer

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California, building an all‑electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for four passengers with minimal noise. The QA Engineer will design and maintain comprehensive test plans, develop automated tests, and lead QA processes across cloud‑native platforms.

You will collaborate with stakeholders to define requirements, own the full testing lifecycle, and mentor junior QA engineers while upholding high standards of quality and reliability.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of QA engineering experience.
• Proficiency in JavaScript and testing frameworks for test automation.
• Strong understanding of CI/CD, testing philosophy, and bug tracking.
• Degree in Computer Science or related field, or 4 additional years of experience.
• Excellent communication and collaboration with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain test plans and test cases for ride‑sharing and airline platforms.
• Develop and execute automated tests using Python, JavaScript and cloud‑native stacks.
• Lead testing methodologies and QA processes for robust, secure systems.
• Develop feedback processes to refine requirements and bug collection.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into product needs.
• Own the full testing lifecycle from plan design to bug tracking and hotfix verification.
• Conduct code reviews for test automation and mentor future QA engineers.

Skills

QA engineering

JavaScript

CI/CD

Testing frameworks

Communication

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or related field

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

• Design, develop, and maintain comprehensive test plans and test cases for Archer’s ride‑sharing and airline operational platforms.
• Develop and execute automated tests using Python, JavaScript and other relevant testing stacks for cloud‑native applications and services.
• Lead the implementation of testing methodologies and quality assurance processes, ensuring systems are robust, efficient, and secure.
• Develop product feedback processes to refine requirements and bug collection processes to maintain application quality.
• Collaborate directly with stakeholders to define customer requirements and translate them into product requirements.
• Own the full testing lifecycle— from test plan design and execution to bug tracking, reporting, and hotfix verification.
• Conduct code reviews for test automation, enforce QA best practices, and mentor future QA engineers.

What You Need

• Small but mighty, 0 to 1 builder mentality.
• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of QA engineering experience, with a proven track record of delivering scalable and reliable software.
• Proficiency in JavaScript and Testing Frameworks for test automation development.
• Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field, or 4 additional years experience.
• Deep understanding of continuous integration, testing philosophy, product lifecycle, and bug tracking.
• Excellent reasoning, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with data validation and working with SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., Postgres, MongoDB).
• Background in high‑availability, real‑time systems or event‑driven architectures.
• Prior experience in aerospace, transportation, or ride share industries.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines like GitHub Actions and container orchestration tools (Docker, Kubernetes).

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. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $140k - $180k Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

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 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.