Senior Engineer, Loads & Dynamics

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. The candidate will support analysis and testing of the rotor system on a new unmanned vehicle platform, including the rotor head, blades, and control system. This role requires expertise of structures of metallic and composite structures and a deep understanding of rotorcraft dynamic systems. Candidate should have a good understanding of fatigue life predictions with a strong background in finite element methods as well as analytical first principles. The ideal candidate will act as a mentor to other members of the team with less experience and establish best practices to follow for the program.

Responsibilities:

• Perform detailed structural analyses of dynamic system components, including the rotor system, control system, and blades
• Evaluate static strength and fatigue life of critical structures using classical hand calculations and finite element analysis for both flight loads and ground load conditions
• Evaluate component life and dynamic response of dynamically loaded metallic and composite components subject to high and low cycle fatigue
• Author structural substantiation reports and other required technical documentation to meet program needs
• Support full scale component ground testing and flight testing, including test requirements, layout, instrumentation, and data reduction
• Develop best practices for structural analysis of critical aerospace structures
• Collaborate with the aerodynamics and loads & dynamics teams to design high performance propeller and rotor blades
• Collaborate with internal and external customers to ensure on-time delivery of data

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in design and analysis of critical aircraft structures
• Proficient in ANSYS, NASTRAN, or other FE software
• Knowledge of fatigue and damage tolerance of composites
• Knowledge of high cycle and low cycle fatigue in metallic components
• Ability to read engineering drawings and interpret CAD models
• CAD design experience (NX preferred)
• Strong technical, written, and verbal communication skills
• Experience in a fast-paced design environment

Preferred:

• Master's in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in design and analysis of rotorcraft dynamic systems, including rotors, controls systems, and propeller or rotor blades
• Background in ground and flight testing of critical composite aerospace structures
• Familiarity with FAA aircraft and/or rotorcraft loads and dynamics regulations (FAR Part 23, 27, 33, 35) and associated advisory materials
• Experience with static and dynamic loads derivation for fixed-wing vehicles and/or VTOL aircraft
• Ability to perform aeroelastic analysis on VTOL dynamic systems
• Prior involvement in FAA or military rotorcraft certification efforts
• Proficiency in Python and/or Matlab scripting

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

At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent with the skills and leadership needed to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company's strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $125,000 - $160,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.