Sr. Staff M&P Engineer, Airframe
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. Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Composite Materials Subject Matter Expert (SME) to lead the development, qualification, and FAA certification of composite airframe materials and processes for our next-generation electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, certified under 14 CFR Part 23. This role is critical to ensure the safety, performance, and manufacturability of composite and metallic structures across the air vehicle. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in composite and metallic materials, aerospace fabrication processes used in general aviation, and material, process, and supplier qualification. Additionally, the candidate is required to have a strong understanding of FAA certification requirements for airframes in 14 CFR Part 23 and/or 14 CFR Part 27.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Materials, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in aerospace composite materials and structures, with a strong track record of leadership in material qualification and certification.
- Proven expertise in composite behavior, including fatigue, damage tolerance, environmental effects, and repairability.
- Extensive experience with material qualification, specification creation, and process development for composite airframes.
- Familiarity with FAA regulations, Advisory Circulars, ASTM standards, and MIL specifications.
- Strong communication and project management skills.
- Experience with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods is required.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical focal and authority on the development of the airframe, including SME support in composite materials and processes for thermoset and thermoplastic systems, prepregs, resin infusion, and out-of-autoclave techniques.
- Lead the development and qualification of composite materials and structural processes, including material allowables, process specifications, and design guidelines.
- Author and maintain material and process specifications, including test plans, qualification procedures, and documentation for FAA certification.
- Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and certification teams to ensure composite structures meet strength, stiffness, fatigue, and damage tolerance requirements.
- Support failure analysis, root cause investigations, and corrective actions related to composite structures.
- Interface with FAA, DERs, and other regulatory bodies to support certification and conformity efforts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
