Lead Engineer, Avionics & Electrical – Special Programs

Archer • San Jose, CA

1d • 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 – Avionics & Electrical brings deep avionics and electrical engineering expertise as their organic core competency — sensor and mission-systems integration and electrical architecture for prototype vehicles.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Avionics, or Computer Engineering (advanced degree a plus)
• Demonstrated experience in avionics or electrical systems design and integration for aerospace or defense platforms
• Familiarity with relevant data bus and communication protocols (e.g., ARINC, CAN, MIL-STD-1553) a plus
• 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

Responsibilities

• Lead avionics and electrical design and integration for prototype vehicles, including sensor and mission-systems integration, electrical/data bus architecture, and avionics-to-airframe integration
• Support rapid prototyping efforts end-to-end, from concept architecture through bench integration, ground test, and flight test support
• Own the avionics and electrical discipline within Special Programs — setting technical approach, standards, and integration methods used across the program’s work in these areas
• 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

• Pay-for-performance culture
• Reasonable accommodations for job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs

What This Job Offers

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