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Salary: USD 248,000 - 311,000 / annual
Archer Technologies is building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft based in San Jose, California. This Principal Engineer role owns the airframe loads development process—a critical technical function that bridges aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and systems engineering.
You will be responsible for developing, documenting, and continuously improving the loads analysis methodology and processes. This includes generating static and fatigue loads that feed directly into airframe design, engine integration, mechanical systems, and propeller development. You'll ensure all loads assumptions, methods, and analyses are clearly documented, traceable, and repeatable across the organization.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning the loads development process and cross-functional collaboration with aerodynamics, airframe, engine, mass properties, mechanical systems, and propeller teams
- Providing consumable static and fatigue loads to all downstream users
- Supporting wind tunnel and flight test planning and execution, including test plan development, instrumentation definition, test monitoring, data analysis, and reporting
- Participating in FAA certification discussions on loads means and methods of compliance
- Supporting preparation of certification test plans
You bring 10+ years of experience developing loads analysis processes for air vehicles, with a strong foundation in structural analysis, strength, stability, and fatigue failure mechanisms. You're proficient in Python and/or Matlab, familiar with software development best practices and version control, and excel at technical communication. Experience with aircraft certification standards (14 CFR Parts 23, 27, 35), structural dynamics, rotor dynamics, FE modeling (NASTRAN), rotorcraft simulation tools, and eVTOL/tiltrotor loads is highly valued. A background in fixed-wing and rotorcraft aerodynamics, structures, and flight dynamics rounds out the ideal profile.
