Program Manager, GNC Software

Archer•San Jose, CA

7d•$199,000 - $248,800•Onsite

About The Position

Archer is seeking an experienced GNC Engineering Project Manager to lead program execution within our Guidance, Navigation & Control discipline. You will be the primary driver of schedule, delivery, and cross-team coordination for all GNC deliverables — spanning flight control laws, state estimation, navigation systems, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing infrastructure. This is a deeply technical program management role that requires both aerospace domain fluency and exceptional organizational leadership. You will partner closely with GNC engineers, Systems Engineering, Flight Test, Software, and Certification to ensure GNC milestones support the overall Midnight aircraft development and certification program.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related technical field
10+ years of project or program management experience in aerospace, aviation, or defense, with direct exposure to flight control, GNC, avionics, or embedded flight software programs
Strong working knowledge of GNC fundamentals — flight control laws, state estimation, navigation filters (e.g., EKF), autopilot architectures, or similar; ability to engage credibly with PhD-level engineers
Demonstrated experience managing complex hardware/software development programs with tight interdependencies and regulatory constraints
Proficiency with project scheduling tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent) and agile tools (Jira, Confluence)
Experience supporting or directly managing DO-178C, DO-331, or ARP4754A certification activities
Exceptional communication skills — ability to translate technical GNC content into clear executive-level status updates and risk narratives
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple parallel workstreams without losing fidelity

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Controls, or a related field
PMP, PMI-ACP, or CSM (Certified Scrum Master) certification
Hands-on experience in GNC algorithm development, HIL/SIL test environments, or flight simulation platforms (e.g., Simulink, FlightGear, X-Plane)
Background at an eVTOL, UAM, or advanced air mobility company, or a Part 25/Part 23 aircraft OEM
Familiarity with MBSE tools (e.g., Cameo, Rhapsody) and requirements management platforms (Polarion, DOORS)
Experience with EVMS and earned value reporting in a defense or aerospace program context

Responsibilities

Own and maintain the GNC integrated master schedule (IMS), encompassing control law development, state estimation, software releases, HIL/SIL test campaigns, and flight test readiness milestones
Develop detailed work breakdown structures (WBS) for GNC workstreams; decompose engineering deliverables into trackable tasks with clear owners and due dates
Track and report on ticket velocity, backlog health, and closure rates using Jira or equivalent tools
Proactively identify schedule risks, model impacts, and drive mitigation plans in coordination with GNC technical leads and program leadership
Align GNC sub-schedules with the aircraft-level IMS and certification plan; surface conflicts early and facilitate resolution across disciplines
Serve as the primary interface between the GNC engineering team and adjacent disciplines including Powertrain, Flight Software, Systems Engineering, Flight Test, and Certification
Facilitate weekly GNC program reviews, sprint ceremonies, and monthly milestone gate reviews; own meeting agendas, minutes, and action tracking
Coordinate GNC inputs into aircraft-level PDRs, CDRs, software milestones, and certification compliance reviews; ensure teams are prepared and documentation is delivered on time
Manage dependencies between GNC software releases and HIL/SIL test infrastructure; track readiness gates for each flight test campaign
Track GNC headcount, contractor spend, tooling, and simulation infrastructure costs against approved budgets; report actuals and forecasts monthly
Support engineering resource planning — identify staffing gaps, coordinate with recruiting for open roles, and manage onboarding timelines to protect schedule
Develop and maintain estimates at completion (EACs) for GNC program elements; flag budget risks to exec stakeholders with recommended actions
Maintain a GNC-specific risk register; facilitate risk review meetings with the technical team and escalate critical risks to program leadership
Identify gaps in development processes and technical decision-making; propose well-informed, actionable next steps
Drive closure of open actions and decisions through disciplined follow-up; own the GNC RAID log (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Decisions)
Support trade study and make/buy decisions for GNC tools and infrastructure (e.g., simulation platforms, sensor suites)
Coordinate GNC contributions to FAA certification activities including DO-178C software certification, DO-331 model-based development, and ARP4754A system development assurance
Track GNC compliance matrix items, DER review milestones, and Stage of Involvement (SOI) audit schedules; ensure the team meets certification commitments
Support configuration management and document control processes for GNC design documentation, test reports, and software baselines