Staff Stress Methods Engineer

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

Job summary

Archer is seeking an experienced engineer in San Jose to join our team as a Staff Stress Methods Engineer. You will develop predictive FE methods, calibrate material models with test data, and demonstrate high-fidelity correlation at component and system levels to accelerate certification.

The role requires a bachelor’s in aerospace or mechanical engineering and 5+ years of FE experience, with strong ANSYS/NASTRAN skills. Travel up to 10% to Archer facilities or suppliers is possible.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering required.
• 5+ years of professional FE modeling experience.
• Expert-level proficiency in ANSYS, NASTRAN, or similar FE software.
• Deep understanding of FEM and material behavior including plasticity and failure theories.
• Experience with modeling complex material behavior and generating material cards.
• Familiarity with measurement tools and mechanical testing equipment.
• Strong technical, written, and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish and document best practices for structural validation from coupon-level to full-scale vehicle airframes.
• Lead testing efforts to characterize material properties and interactions within larger systems.
• Develop predictive modeling methods for complex material behavior including plasticity, high strain rates, environmental conditions, and failure.
• Demonstrate test-vs-simulation correlation across the Building Block Pyramid for various load cases.
• Collaborate with the broader structural analysis team to improve internal analysis methods and software tools.

Skills

Finite element modeling

ANSYS/NASTRAN

FEM fundamentals

Material behavior

Test data calibration

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Master’s or PhD preferred

Tools

NX

ANSA

Meta

HyperX

NCODE

Python

MATLAB

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.

Archer Aviation is seeking a highly motivated, experienced engineer to join our team in revolutionizing the aviation industry. In this role you will be developing predictive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) methods, advanced material models and analysis tools. You will bridge the gap between physical testing and virtual simulation by collecting test data, calibrating material models, and demonstrating high-fidelity correlation at both the component and system levels. This role is critical in enabling vehicle-level predictive simulations that reduce the need for iterative physical testing and accelerate our path to certification.

Responsibilities

• Establish and document best practices for a Building Block Approach to structural validation, ranging from coupon-level to full-scale vehicle airframes.
• Lead testing efforts to characterize basic material properties and complex interactions within larger systems.
• Develop predictive modeling methods for complex material behavior including plasticity, high strain rates, environmental conditions, and failure.
• Demonstrate test vs. simulation correlation across the Building Block Pyramid for a diverse range of load cases, including modal, static, linear/explicit dynamic, thermal, random vibration, and shock.
• Collaborate with the broader structural analysis team to improve internal analysis methods and software tools.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in finite element modeling.
• Expert-level proficiency in ANSYS, NASTRAN, or similar FE software.
• Deep understanding of the Finite Element Method (FEM) and material behavior including plasticity and failure theories.
• Experience with modeling complex material behavior and generating material cards for analysis.
• Familiarity with measurement tools (strain gauges, load cells, extensometers, accelerometers, digital image correlation etc) and mechanical testing equipment (load frames, shaker tables, drop towers).
• Strong technical, written, and verbal communication skills

Preferred:

• Master’s or PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience with NX, ANSA, Meta, HyperX, or NCODE.
• Proficiency in Python or Matlab for automating simulation workflows and post-processing.
• Experience with composite materials, metallic fatigue and adhesive bond failure.
• Experience with high strain rate material testing.
• Materials database management.

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 $152,000- $190,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

This position will require travel up to 10% to Archer facilities or supplier facilities.

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.

Job posting details for Staff Stress Methods Engineer at Archer in San Jose, California, United States. . ClimateTechList gathers 9,000+ job openings from over 480 climate tech companies and updates them daily.