Staff State Estimation Engineer

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer in San Jose, CA is seeking a seasoned State Estimation Architect to lead the design, implementation, and verification of advanced state estimation algorithms for eVTOL platforms. You will work with Simulink/MATLAB, integrate sensors, and drive V&V strategies, with a focus on safety and cross-functional collaboration across control, hardware, and software teams.

Base pay ranges from $175,000 to $220,000 per year, with opportunities to impact next-gen sustainable air mobility and

Qualifications

• 9+ years of experience designing, implementing, and verifying state estimation algorithms.
• Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• Proficiency in Simulink/MATLAB for development and simulation.
• Experience with sensor fusion from INS, GNSS, airspeed sensors, and altimeters.
• Ability to translate high-level architecture into detailed implementation.
• Proven track record of V&V methodologies.
• Working knowledge of ARP4754A, DO-178C, and DO-331.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design advanced state estimation algorithms for eVTOL aircraft, balancing safety, performance, and robustness.
• Implement state estimation algorithms in Simulink, following modeling standards.
• Integrate state estimation with air data systems, INS, GNSS and other aviation-grade sensors.
• Synthesize system requirements to drive design and cross-functional alignment.
• Develop and execute verification and validation strategies, including HIL and flight testing.
• Develop and refine models to simulate sensors under nominal, degraded, and failure scenarios.
• Analyze data from simulation and flight tests to identify issues and quantify performance.
• Collaborate with control, hardware, software, and test teams to ensure seamless integration.
• Build tools and processes to maximize engineering capability.

Skills

State estimation

Simulink/MATLAB

Sensor fusion

System architecture

V&V methodologies

AR P4754A/DO-178C/DO-331 knowledge

Flight testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering/EE/Robotics

Tools

Simulink

MATLAB

Aerospace data buses

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:

• Architect and design advanced state estimation algorithms for eVTOL aircraft, ensuring safety while considering performance, robustness, and computational efficiency
• Implementstate estimation algorithms, primarily in Simulink, ensuring adherence to modeling standards and best practices
• Integrate state estimation solutions with various hardware components, including air data systems, Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and other aviation-grade sensors
• Synthesize system requirements used to drive design and ensure cross-functional needs are met
• Develop and execute creative verification and validation (V&V) strategies for state estimation algorithms, including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and flight testing
• Develop and refine models to simulate sensors in nominal, degraded operation, and failure scenarios
• Analyze and interpret data from simulation, lab testing, and flight testing to identify issues and characterize real-world performance
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including control laws, hardware, software, and test engineers, to solve complex aircraft-level problems and ensure seamless integration
• Build tools and processesto maximize engineering capability

What you need:

• 9+ years of experience in the design, implementation, and verification of state estimation algorithms
• Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
• Proficiency in Simulink/MATLAB for algorithm development and simulation
• Experience with sensor fusion from various sources, including INS, GNSS, airspeed sensors, and altimeters
• Demonstrated ability to think critically from high-level architecture down to low-level implementation details.
• Proven track record of developing effective V&V methodologies
• Working level knowledge of ARP4754A, DO-178C, and DO-331

Bonus Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with flight testing and test plan development
• Previous experience with flight control or state estimation systems for aircraft such as eVTOLS, helicopters, or fixed-wing airplanes.
• Working knowledge of control algorithms
• Experience working with aerospace data buses and communication protocols
• Experience working with regulation authorities
• Experience developing or testing fly-by-wire flight control systems

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. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $175,000 - $220,000. 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.