Principal Program Manager, Flight Control Systems

Archer•San Jose, CA

5h•$248,000 - $311,000

About The Position

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. We are seeking an experienced Engineering Program Manager to drive engineering teams in the area of Flight Control Systems (FCS). This role will be responsible for driving deliverables for FCS architecture across systems engineering teams, including schedule and resource planning, risk management, and flight-critical software and hardware integration. The position requires an understanding of complex, safety-critical product development programs and experience with control law design, hardware components, specialized suppliers in aerospace, and FAA conformity.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering
10+ years of program management experience in aerospace/aviation
Experience with flight-critical system development programs, specifically FCS
Knowledge of safety-critical quality standards and processes
Strong proficiency in project management tools
Excellence in stakeholder management
Advanced problem-solving and analytical abilities
Strong financial acumen and budget management
Expert-level presentation and communication skills
Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams
Manage multiple suppliers to meet quality, schedule and cost targets
Knowledge of FCS integration, actuator development, control law development, and verification methods

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in relevant field
PMP certification preferred
Experience with eVTOL or urban air mobility programs
Experience with safety-critical software development standards
Background in control systems engineering or real-time embedded systems

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee multiple parallel workstreams from concept through production
Coordinate with cross-functional teams including various engineering teams, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality
Develop and maintain program schedules, budgets, and risk management plans
Drive technical decisions and trade studies related to complex FCS design and development
Oversee supplier relationships and contracts for FCS components
Ensure alignment between program objectives and overall company strategy
Oversee integration of the FCS with other aircraft systems (e.g., propulsion, navigation, vehicle management)
Lead technical reviews and design validation activities, focusing on flight-critical aspects
Lead trade studies and trade discussions with stakeholder collaboration
Manage FCS functional, performance, and safety requirements
Drive FCS requirements validation and verification, including simulation and flight testing
Drive risk and opportunity management and cost reduction initiatives
Develop and track program metrics and KPIs
Manage program budgets and resource allocation
Create and maintain program documentation and reporting
Lead stakeholder communications and status updates
Run cross functional team meetings related to core team activities
Report regular status and give status presentations to senior level executives