Archer Aviation is seeking a highly motivated, experienced engineer to join our team in revolutionizing the aviation industry. The candidate will support analysis and testing of the rotor system on a new unmanned vehicle platform, including the rotor head, blades, and control system. This role requires expertise of structures of metallic and composite structures and a deep understanding of rotorcraft dynamic systems. Candidate should have a good understanding of fatigue life predictions with a strong background in finite element methods as well as analytical first principles. The ideal candidate will act as a mentor to other members of the team with less experience and establish best practices to follow for the program.

Responsibilities:

• Perform detailed structural analyses of dynamic system components, including the rotor system, control system, and blades
• Evaluate static strength and fatigue life of critical structures using classical hand calculations and finite element analysis for both flight loads and ground load conditions
• Evaluate component life and dynamic response of dynamically loaded metallic and composite components subject to high and low cycle fatigue
• Author structural substantiation reports and other required technical documentation to meet program needs
• Support full scale component ground testing and flight testing, including test requirements, layout, instrumentation, and data reduction
• Develop best practices for structural analysis of critical aerospace structures
• Collaborate with the aerodynamics and loads & dynamics teams to design high performance propeller and rotor blades 
• Collaborate with internal and external customers to ensure on-time delivery of data

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in design and analysis of critical aircraft structures
• Proficient in ANSYS, NASTRAN, or other FE software
• Knowledge of fatigue and damage tolerance of composites
• Knowledge of high cycle and low cycle fatigue in metallic components
• Ability to read engineering drawings and interpret CAD models
• CAD design experience (NX preferred)
• Strong technical, written, and verbal communication skills
• Experience in a fast-paced design environment

Preferred:

• Master’s in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in design and analysis of rotorcraft dynamic systems, including rotors, controls systems, and propeller or rotor blades
• Background in ground and flight testing of critical composite aerospace structures
• Familiarity with FAA aircraft and/or rotorcraft loads and dynamics regulations (FAR Part 23, 27, 33, 35) and associated advisory materials
• Experience with static and dynamic loads derivation for fixed-wing vehicles and/or VTOL aircraft
• Ability to perform aeroelastic analysis on VTOL dynamic systems
• Prior involvement in FAA or military rotorcraft certification efforts
• Proficiency in Python and/or Matlab scripting

This position will require travel up to 10% to Archer facilities or supplier facilities.

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 $152,100- $190,100. 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 accommodation 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.

What you’ll do: 

• Perform trade studies, requirements derivation, and establish the overall vehicle configuration based on requirements
• Complete hand calc and FEM analysis of primary and secondary aerospace structures
• Develop company standards for model creation, strength checks, and analysis report generation
• Compile documentation of stress analysis to support release of engineering drawings  and documents
• Work closely with and mentor designers and junior structural analysts in stress/stability/fracture analysis best practices
• Provide technical guidance on design concepts (risk vs. cost vs. performance)
• Perform stress analysis using Finite Element Methods for static, dynamic, fatigue, and/or damage tolerance to support program design, fabrication, testing, and/or structural integrity activities
• Support test execution and analyze test results to validate and verify that designs meet requirements and specifications
• Write detailed structural substantiation reports and other technical reports as required in order to obtain FAA airworthiness approvals

What you need:

• 10+ years of experience with aircraft, spacecraft, launch vehicle or powertrain structures
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering field, M.S. preferred
• Proven experience with stress, fatigue, and/or damage tolerance analysis on both metallic and/or composite structures.
• Experience in performing structural analysis via a combination of classical hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis
• Able to develop free-body diagrams for internal and reaction load derivation, and strength analysis
• Proficient in one or more of the following analysis codes: Nastran, Optistruct , Ansys, Abaqus, LS-Dyna
• Strong understanding of FEM modeling techniques (boundary conditions, bolted connections, contact, verification methods, etc)
• Knowledge of fatigue/fracture (AFGRO/NASGRO, spectra development, NDE methods, damage tolerance)
• Self-starter, team player, and desire to work in a fast-paced environment

Bonus Qualifications:

• Knowledge of FAA aircraft certification requirements for Part 23 / Part 27 aircraft
• Experience with development and/or qualification testing
• Familiar with classical aerospace sizing methods (ex: Bruhn, Niu, Roark)
• Experience in process automation using scripting languages such as Matlab and Python

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 $152,000- $190,000. 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 accommodation 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.

What you'll do:

• Create and review drawings, define project plans, procure parts, materials and equipment
• Manage suppliers to design test fixtures and execute test programs
• Create instrumentation definition, calibrate instrumentation, and install instrumentation
• Lead small test teams to drive programs to completion
• Collaborate multi-disciplinary teams including design, loads, M&P, and analysis teams to define tests which validate design details
• Develop and review company and FAA test plans and test reports for static and fatigue testing
• Collect and analyze data from testing
• Design test stands, fixtures, DAQs
• Define testing procedures, SOPs, and best practices
• Enforce safety and test protocol in the structural test lab

What you need:

• Experience with NX and/or FEMAP/Nastran software
• Strong fundamentals in structural and mechanical analysis
• Experience with Data Acquisition Software (LabVIEW, MTS, Load Star)
• Prior hands-on experience with aircraft design, analysis, or structural testing
• Solid problem skills and the ability to make decisions quickly
• Experience using Instron, MTS, or other testing systems
• Experience with electronics, circuitry, soldering
• Ability to lift 50lb
• Ability to travel up to 25%of the time
• Knowledge of FAA aircraft certification test requirements for Part 23 / Part 27 aircraft

Bonus qualifications:

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace design, structural analysis or testing, with a minimum of 5+ years of structural test experience.
• A proven track record in airframe assembly and composite structure builds; EVTOL or experimental aircraft work is a strong plus.
• Proficiency in CAD (e.g., CATIA, NX) and FEM (e.g. FEMAP).
• Hands-on experience with structural testing
• Excellent communication skills, the ability to thrive in a rapid-iteration environment, and a bias toward action when solving complex, hands-on problems.

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 $126,000.00 - $160,000.00. 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 accommodation 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.