Staff Software Engineer, Backend

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 237,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer in San Jose, California is seeking a Staff Software Backend Engineer to build and scale the core logic, streaming pipelines, and data layers powering our real-time AI tracking platform. You will design high-performance backend services, implement stateful stream processing, and collaborate with frontend and AI teams to expose clean data via scalable APIs.

Join a team pushing aerospace tech with modern cloud environments and a pay-for-performance culture; base pay ranges from $190k to

Qualifications

• BS/MS degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with backend and data pipelines.
• Proficiency in Java, Python and/or Rust to build backend services.
• Awareness of distributed messaging systems such as Apache Pulsar or Kafka.
• Understanding of PostgreSQL and in-memory data structures like Redis.
• Familiarity with Docker and cloud environments (AWS/GCP/Azure).
• Ability to own backend code and schemas with high-velocity development.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-performance backend systems, microservices, and APIs alongside real-time data pipelines.
• Implement stateful stream-processing applications to clean, transform, and window high-frequency telemetry and event data.
• Architect robust data models and schemas for low-latency writes and fast real-time queries.
• Collaborate with frontend and AI/data science teams to expose clean, structured data via scalable APIs.
• Participate in full software lifecycle including tests, code reviews, deployment, and monitoring.
• Investigate and optimize bottlenecks, serialization overhead, and query performance in production.

Skills

Java

Python

Rust

Backend systems

Data pipelines

Distributed systems

Education

BS/MS in CS or Software Engineering

Tools

Apache Pulsar

Kafka

PostgreSQL

Redis

Docker

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

Archer is an aerospace and defense company headquartered in San Jose, California, building the aircraft and technology that will define the next era of flight. The company works across air taxis, UAS, AI and powertrain development - building real-world systems that combine software intelligence with physical hardware. That includes Midnight, Archer's all-electric air taxi; Halo, an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft built for both commercial and defense use; and ZEE, Archer's AI foundation model built specifically for aviation. We're seeking exceptional engineers, operators and builders to join us on our mission to build the future of aerospace and defense.

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

As a Staff Software Backend Engineer, you will build and scale the core application logic, streaming pipelines, and data layers that power our real-time AI tracking platform. You will focus on the intersection of backend service architecture and data engineering - ensuring high-frequency telemetry data is ingested via streaming queues, accurately modeled, and reliably served to downstream web apps and AI models.

• Design, develop, and maintain high-performance backend systems, microservices, and APIs alongside real-time data pipelines.
• Implement stateful stream-processing applications to clean, transform, and window high-frequency telemetry and event data.
• Architect robust data models and schemas optimized for low-latency writes and fast real-time queries across relational, time-series, and caching layers.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with frontend and AI/data science to expose clean, structured data and integrated AI insights via scalable APIs.
• Participate in the full software development lifecycle, including writing integration tests, code reviews, deployment, and monitoring pipeline health.
• Investigate, debug, and optimize application bottlenecks, data serialization overhead, and query performance in production.

What You Need

• BS/MS degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with a balanced focus on backend systems and data pipeline development.
• Proficiency in Java, Python and/or Rust to build backend services
• Awareness of distributed messaging systems and event-driven architectures, such as Apache Pulsar or Kafka.
• Understanding of data modeling concepts related to relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL) and in-memory data structures (e.g., Redis/Valkey).
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker) and modern cloud environments (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• Able to leverage AI coding assistants to increase velocity while fully understanding and taking absolute ownership of all backend code and schemas you commit.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset to handle the complexities of real-time data flow.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with column-oriented or time-series data storage and analytical file formats (e.g., Parquet).
• Familiarity with geographic/spatial data processing and mapping APIs.
• Basic understanding of Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and GitOps workflows.
• Prior experience or a deep interest in aerospace, aviation, or high-throughput tracking systems.

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 $190,000 - $237,000. 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 [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 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 [e-mail] . All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.