Electric Air Vehicle IPT Lead

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:

The Air Vehicle IPT Lead is the primary leader responsible for the execution, management, and cross-IPT coordination of the integrated aircraft design. This leader manages the overall Air Vehicle work scope, ensuring that the outputs from specialized teams (e.g., Structures IPT, Propulsion IPT) integrate seamlessly and remain synchronized with the schedule.  This leader will pair with the Chief Engineer and execute the technical decision making and vision of the air vehicle.

This role prioritizes effective technical coordination and schedule across the entire vehicle team.

• Collaboration with the Chief Engineer: Serve as the Chief Engineer’s primary operational interface for the Air Vehicle IPT’s scope. Receive top-level technical direction, communicate cross-IPT risks, and ensure all team activities support the overarching technical vision.
• Work Package Delivery & Resource Management: Accountable for the successful execution of all IPT technical milestones and documentation delivery. Along with PMO will manage the IPT budget, staffing plan, and resources efficiently.
• Cross-IPT Coordination: Actively facilitate integration meetings and communication channels between individual, specialized IPTs (e.g., Propulsion, Flight Controls, Structures) to proactively identify and resolve interface conflicts and timing dependencies.
• Risk Management: Manage the IPT’s contribution to the program risk register, focusing on cross functional risks and schedule slippage due to uncoordinated activities.

The IPT Lead focuses on the consequences of the technical work (e.g., fit, weight, schedule) rather than the detailed methods of the domain analysis.

• Interface Control Oversight: Oversee the creation and management of Interface Control Documents (ICDs), ensuring all specialized IPTs correctly define and adhere to the physical, electrical, and software interfaces they share.
• Integration Conflict Resolution: Drive the resolution of technical conflicts that arise at system boundaries (e.g., thermal management/structure interface, power distribution/flight control interface).
• Mass and CG Control: Strictly manage the consolidated mass and Center of Gravity (CG) status of the entire Air Vehicle IPT scope, ensuring contributions from all specialized teams meet allocated targets.
• Technical Compliance Reporting: Audit the status of the specialized IPTs’ compliance with Level ²⁄₃ requirements, reporting exceptions and variances to the Chief Engineer.

What You Need:

The ideal candidate possesses strong managerial and coordination skills, supported by a broad, general understanding of the core technical domains.

• Experience: 10+ years of aerospace engineering experience, including 3+ years managing an Integrated Product Team (IPT) or a similar complex, cross-functional work package.

• Technical Familiarity (Coordination Level): Requires a working knowledge of the principles and integration challenges associated with:

  • Propulsion Systems (Hybrid-Electric): Familiarity with the integration of thermal engines, generators, battery systems, and power electronics; understanding requirements for thermal management and high-voltage power distribution.
  • Flight Controls & GNC: Understanding the inputs and outputs of control law development.
  • Rotor Dynamics: Familiarity with concepts like whirl-flutter and vibration mitigation strategies.
  • Advanced Structures/Materials: Understanding the weight impact and basic manufacturing constraints of composites and metallics.
  • Dynamic Systems: Understanding the design trades and unique requirements of rotorcraft dynamic systems

• Systems Engineering Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in managing Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and driving system verification efforts.

• Project Management Acumen: Knowledge and application of project management techniques, including scheduling, and resource allocation.

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 []. 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 at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Archer is committed to provide a safe workplace and a safe aircraft. This is a safety sensitive designated role. Employment in safety sensitive positions is contingent on successful passage of a background check and is subject to pre-employment and random drug screening.

This position may require exposure to information which is subject to U.S. export control regulations. To conform to such regulations as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), applicant should be eligible for any required authorizations from the U.S. Government.

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 [email protected]. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.