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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. About the Role Special Programs is Archer's rapid-prototyping, cross-functional engineering team supporting advanced and defense-focused development efforts. We operate as a small, empowered group capable of moving quickly across disciplines — from early technical assessment of new opportunities through hands-on design, analysis, and prototype development. The Lead Special Programs Engineer – Flight Controls & Software brings deep flight controls and software engineering expertise as their organic core competency — control law development, flight dynamics, and the embedded flight control and autopilot software that implements them for prototype vehicles. What You’ll Do Lead flight control law design and analysis for prototype vehicles, including control law development, flight dynamics modeling, and stability and control assessment Lead development of embedded flight control and autopilot software, from architecture through implementation and flight test support Support rapid prototyping efforts end-to-end, from concept modeling and simulation through hardware-in-the-loop test and flight test support Own the flight controls and software discipline within Special Programs — setting technical approach, standards, and analysis/development methods used across the program’s flight controls and software work Conduct technical feasibility assessments of new opportunities — evaluating whether emerging concepts, RFPs, or mission requirements are viable within your focus area and what approach they would require Serve as a cross-functional technical contributor across Special Programs efforts outside your core focus area when program needs require it Collaborate with program leads, other Special Programs engineers, and broader Archer engineering teams to align technical approaches with program timelines and constraints Produce technical documentation, trade studies, and analysis packages supporting both design maturity reviews and opportunity/capture decisions Represent Special Programs work in your focus area in internal reviews and, as needed, in discussions with government stakeholders What You’ll Need Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Controls, Electrical, or Computer Engineering (advanced degree a plus) Demonstrated experience in flight control law development, flight dynamics, or stability and control analysis for aerospace platforms Demonstrated experience developing embedded flight control or autopilot software Familiarity with relevant control design, simulation, and embedded software development tools Demonstrated ability to work across the full development lifecycle — concept through prototype — in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment Experience or strong aptitude for evaluating technical feasibility of early-stage concepts, not just executing against defined requirements Comfort operating as a generalist when needed — willingness and ability to contribute outside your core focus area in support of program needs Ability to work independently with significant technical ownership and no direct-report support structure 8–12 years of relevant engineering experience (or equivalent demonstrated experience in rapid-prototyping / advanced-programs environments) Must be a U