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Jobs · Engineering · California

Director of Flight Software & Algorithms

Archer · San Jose, CA · 3 wk ago
Engineering$250k–$330k/yrFull-time

About the role

Archer is building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance sustainable air mobility. The Director of Flight Software & Algorithms leads the teams that own Archer's core flight software, guidance/navigation/control (GNC) algorithms, autonomy, powertrain software, and the safety-critical onboard systems that fly our aircraft. This is a product-centric, deep-domain leadership role with end-to-end ownership — from control law and estimation algorithm to certified, airworthy software running on the aircraft.

We are building the most advanced and the most AI-native flight software organization in aerospace. This leader will not simply apply established DO-178C practice — they will help reinvent it, using AI, automation, and modern software methods to compress the path from algorithm to certified flight while raising the safety bar. The mandate is explicit: change how flight-critical software and GNC are built in this industry, and prove that velocity and airworthiness are not a tradeoff.

"One foot in software, one foot in systems." You will drive technical strategy, execution, and cross-functional alignment across Software, Avionics, Flight Controls, and Flight Test.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and grow the Flight Software & Algorithms organization — embedded flight software, GNC, autonomy, powertrain software, and simulation — managing managers and senior technical leaders.
  • Own the architecture, development, integration, and verification of all flight-critical and safety-critical software, from requirements to airworthiness.
  • Drive the design of GNC algorithms, state estimation, fault detection and isolation, and flight-control logic for a novel eVTOL configuration across hover, transition, and forward flight.
  • Oversee real-time embedded software for flight computers, motor/powertrain controllers, sensors, and avionics.
  • Make Archer's flight software AI-native: champion AI-assisted development, model-based design, automated requirements-to-code-to-test traceability, and learning-enabled control and autonomy — always inside a rigorous safety and certification envelope.
  • Partner with the AI-Native Engineering Platform & DevSecOps organization to exploit code-to-flight CI/CD, automated verification, and AI tooling that compound your team's velocity.
  • Establish and mature software development and assurance processes aligned with DO-178C, DO-330, ARP4754A, and ARP4761.
  • Ensure robust simulation, modeling, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments for rapid, safe iteration.
  • Represent the organization in design reviews, certification discussions (DER/ODA), and executive-level program updates.
  • Build a culture of technical excellence, extreme ownership, honest debate, and "build like lives depend on it."

Requirements

  • Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
  • 12+ years in flight software, embedded systems, GNC, controls, or autonomy for aerospace, defense, spacecraft, or autonomous vehicles.
  • 5+ years of engineering leadership managing managers and senior technical leaders, with a track record of scaling high-performing teams.
  • Proven delivery of safety-critical, real-time embedded software for aircraft, spacecraft, or autonomous vehicles.
  • Deep command of control theory, estimation, navigation, and flight-control algorithms.
  • Strong working knowledge of DO-178C, ARP4754A/ARP4761, and safety-critical development and assurance.
  • Demonstrated ability to set technical direction and drive execution in a fast-moving environment.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with eVTOL, electric propulsion, or novel aircraft configurations.
  • Demonstrated use of AI/ML, learning-based control, advanced perception, or autonomy in real systems — and a clear point of view on doing so safely.
  • Experience modernizing flight-software development with automation, model-based methods, or AI-assisted tooling.
  • HIL testing, simulation frameworks, RTOS, and tool qualification (DO-330).
  • Prior involvement in aircraft certification programs (DER/ODA interaction).

What We Look For

  • A leader who believes velocity is a feature, not a tradeoff — and that better, faster engineering makes aircraft safer.
  • Conviction that AI will reshape aerospace software, paired with the rigor to deploy it responsibly.
  • Ability to thrive in ambiguity, build structure where needed, debate on merit, and commit fully.
  • Passion for aviation and sustainable transportation.

Pay

For this position we are targeting a base pay between $250,000 - $330,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

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