Director of SW Integration & Operations

Company: Archer
Location: San Jose
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

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. What We Are Looking For: We are looking for an experienced leader to join the Flight Software Team at Archer to lead the integration of Archer's safety critical software systems including avionics, batteries, engines, and actuators. You will build and lead a high-performing team while establishing the strategic vision and operational excellence required to deliver safe, certifiable aircraft software systems. What You'll Do: Lead and grow a multi-disciplinary team responsible for software integration, testing, process, and overall operations Define and execute the strategic roadmap for software integration and operations across the aircraft development lifecycle Partner with aircraft systems, verification, flight test, and integration leadership to align priorities and drive program success Establish testing strategies and infrastructure across multiple environments, including simulators, software labs, systems labs, and aircraft prototypes Drive root cause analysis and resolution of complex, system-level integration issues by leveraging requirements, architecture diagrams, Simulink models, C source code, and supplier documentation Build and manage processes for problem report disposition, coordinating with software development teams to implement corrective actions and preventive measures Provide technical leadership and oversight for aircraft production, ground testing, and flight testing operations Develop, implement, and continuously improve processes, tools, and guidelines to increase safety, quality, and team efficiency Lead program planning, including resource allocation, scheduling, risk management, and cross-functional coordination Mentor and develop engineers, fostering technical excellence and career growth within the team Interface with executive leadership, regulatory agencies, and external partners on technical matters and program status What You Need: Proven leadership experience managing technical teams in a complex, fast-paced environment Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with ability to influence at all organizational levels Strategic thinking with strong organizational and program management capabilities Demonstrated ability to build teams, processes, and organizational capabilities from the ground up 12 years of experience working with critical, complex, real-time embedded systems, with at least 5 years in a leadership role Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering, Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related degree (Master's preferred) Deep technical expertise in flight controls, avionics, powertrain, or related aerospace systems Extensive experience with systems verification and validation methodologies Strong technical foundation in hardware and software integration in laboratory and flight test environments Expert knowledge of communication standards and protocols (RS-422/485, CAN, ARINC-429, AFDX, Ethernet, TCP/IP, etc.) Experience with debuggers and lab instruments such as oscilloscopes and bus analyzers Technical proficiency with C language, MATLAB/Simulink, and scripting languages (bash, Python) Must be on-site at Archer San Jose, CA office with ability to travel to Salinas, CA and other locations as needed Bonus Qualifications: Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in relevant engineering discipline Experience leading software development and integration programs in aerospace or automotive industries Direct experience with DO-178C and ARP4754 certification processes to DAL A/B levels Knowledge of Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS), multi-threading, and safety-critical software architectures Experience with FPGAs and VHDL or Verilog languagesTrack record of building and scaling technical organizationsExperience with tools development, CI/CD pipelines, and test automation infrastructure Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications. At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possess the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company's business strategy. For this position we are targeting a base pay between 207,000 - 259,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. 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. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodations for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer's People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Information collected and processed as part of any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Archer's Candidate Privacy Policy . 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. Archer Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters with whom it does not have a prior written agreement. Archer reserves the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes that it receives and bears no responsibility for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes. If you are a recruiting agency or individual recruiter wishing to do business with Archer, please reach out to People@archer.com . All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.

Keywords: Archer, Lodi , Director of SW Integration & Operations, Engineering , San Jose, California