SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Archer Technologies is building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed to carry four passengers with minimal noise and environmental impact. As Director of Flight Software & Algorithms, you will lead the teams responsible for Archer's core flight software, guidance/navigation/control (GNC) algorithms, autonomy, powertrain software, and safety-critical onboard systems.
This is a product-centric, deep-domain leadership role with end-to-end ownership spanning control law and estimation algorithms through to certified, airworthy software running on the aircraft. You will manage managers and senior technical leaders across embedded flight software, GNC, autonomy, powertrain software, and simulation teams.
Key responsibilities include: architecting and owning the development, integration, and verification of all flight-critical and safety-critical software from requirements to airworthiness certification; driving GNC algorithm design for state estimation, fault detection, and flight-control logic across hover, transition, and forward flight; overseeing real-time embedded software for flight computers, motor controllers, sensors, and avionics; establishing and maturing software development processes aligned with DO-178C, DO-330, ARP4754A, and ARP4761; ensuring robust simulation and hardware-in-the-loop environments; and representing the organization in design reviews and certification discussions.
A core mandate is to make Archer's flight software AI-native by championing AI-assisted development, model-based design, automated requirements-to-code-to-test traceability, and learning-enabled control—always within a rigorous safety and certification envelope. You will partner with the AI-Native Engineering Platform & DevSecOps organization to exploit code-to-flight CI/CD and automated verification. You will set technical direction, drive execution in a fast-moving environment, and build a culture of technical excellence and extreme ownership.
Required: 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; proven delivery of safety-critical, real-time embedded software; deep command of control theory, estimation, navigation, and flight-control algorithms; strong working knowledge of DO-178C and safety-critical development; Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
Preferred: eVTOL or electric propulsion experience; demonstrated use of AI/ML and learning-based control in real systems; experience modernizing flight-software development with automation and AI-assisted tooling; HIL testing and tool qualification expertise; prior aircraft certification program involvement.
