Lead Autonomy Engineer – Special Programs

Archer • San Jose, CA

22h • Onsite

About The Position

Special Programs is Archer's rapid-prototyping, cross-functional engineering team supporting advanced and defense-focused development efforts. We operate as a small, empowered group capable of moving quickly across disciplines — from early technical assessment of new opportunities through hands-on design, analysis, and prototype development. The Lead Special Programs Engineer – Autonomy Integration brings deep autonomy engineering expertise as their organic core competency — the perception, planning, and autonomy-stack software that lets prototype vehicles operate with reduced human intervention.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace, or a related field (advanced degree a plus)
• Demonstrated experience developing autonomy software — perception, planning, or decision-making stacks — for aerospace, robotics, or defense platforms
• Familiarity with relevant autonomy frameworks, simulation environments, and flight test support for autonomous systems
• Demonstrated ability to work across the full development lifecycle — concept through prototype — in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment
• Experience or strong aptitude for evaluating technical feasibility of early-stage concepts, not just executing against defined requirements
• Comfort operating as a generalist when needed — willingness and ability to contribute outside your core focus area in support of program needs
• Ability to work independently with significant technical ownership and no direct-report support structure
• 8–12 years of relevant engineering experience (or equivalent demonstrated experience in rapid-prototyping / advanced-programs environments)
• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee), as defined by ITAR/EAR
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance

Nice To Haves

• This isn’t a seat on Archer’s core autonomy team. Special Programs engineers are chosen for deep discipline expertise and the versatility to support wherever a program needs it — from early opportunity evaluation to hands-on prototype work across disciplines.
• You’ll have significant technical ownership and autonomy, working in a small team built to move fast on some of Archer’s most forward-looking defense efforts.

Responsibilities

• Lead autonomy stack design and development for prototype vehicles, including perception, planning, and autonomy software architecture
• Support rapid prototyping efforts end-to-end, from concept algorithms and simulation through hardware-in-the-loop test and flight test support
• Own the autonomy discipline within Special Programs — setting technical approach, standards, and development methods used across the program’s autonomy work
• Conduct technical feasibility assessments of new opportunities — evaluating whether emerging concepts, RFPs, or mission requirements are viable within your focus area and what approach they would require
• Serve as a cross-functional technical contributor across Special Programs efforts outside your core focus area when program needs require it
• Collaborate with program leads, other Special Programs engineers, and broader Archer engineering teams to align technical approaches with program timelines and constraints
• Produce technical documentation, trade studies, and analysis packages supporting both design maturity reviews and opportunity/capture decisions
• Represent Special Programs work in your focus area in internal reviews and, as needed, in discussions with government stakeholders

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior