Senior Aerospace Development Specialist

Location: San Jose, California, United States

Department: Hybrid

What You’ll Do:

• Fabricate, inspect, and repair safety-critical composite structures, including rotor blades, in accordance with engineering drawings, process specifications, and quality plans 
• Support development test campaigns — including fabrication of ground test articles and other test specimens as well as flight hardware — through all phases from layup through post-cure processing and NDI 
• Operate and maintain prototype lab equipment including CNC mills, lathes, routers, and associated tooling to produce development hardware and fixtures 
• Work with the design team to select appropriate instrumentation for dynamic systems (rotors, blades, propellers, transmissions) and other mechanical assemblies
• Work with the team to develop wiring schematics, instrumentation diagrams, and channel lists for test programs
• Select, configure, and integrate data acquisition systems and signal conditioning hardware 
• Troubleshoot manufacturing non-conformances, process anomalies, and test anomalies in collaboration with engineering; disposition discrepancies and drive root cause resolution 
• Instrument ground and flight test components, including installation of sensors and wiring, routing of instrumentation cables, and fabrication of wiring harnesses
• Integrate instrumentation with DAQ and verify signal integrity
• Assist in calibration of sensors and measurement systems
• Travel to test sites, supplier facilities, and customer locations to provide direct fabrication and assembly support, including extended field campaigns as program needs require 
• Maintain calibration records, work order documentation, and material traceability in compliance with quality management system requirements 

What You Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field OR equivalent experience in instrumentation and aerospace testing
• 12+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing or MRO, with a minimum of 8 years on development or prototype programs 
• Proficiency interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, composite ply books, and manufacturing process specifications 
• Experience working with data acquisition systems and signal conditioning hardware
• Ability to read and produce wiring diagrams and instrumentation schematics
• Experience performing and/or supporting NDI methods (ultrasonic, tap test, visual inspection) 
• Familiarity with aerospace quality systems (AS9100, FAA Part 21/145 environments) 
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting aptitude and structured problem-solving approach 

Bonus Qualifications:

• Demonstrated expertise in fabricating composite structures — wet layup, prepreg, autoclave cure, out-of-autoclave processes, and secondary bonding 
• Experience operating a prototype or model shop: CNC machining, manual lathe/mill, waterjet, or EDM 
• Composite process certification (e.g., Boeing D6-17487, Nadcap AC7118) 
• Familiarity with eVTOL, UAV, or other novel aircraft development environments 
• Experience with structural test article build and instrumentation (strain gauges, load introduction fittings) 

At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent with the skills and leadership needed to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $100,000 - $137,500. Actual compensation offered will be determined by 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 [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.