Sr. Propulsion Electrical Systems Engineer

Archer • San Jose, CA

8h • $140,000 - $195,000

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.
In the Sr. Electric Engine Systems Engineer role, you will drive the Airborne Electronic Hardware (AEH) systems lifecycle for Archer’s electric propulsion units (EPU). This position bridges the gap between detailed power electronics design and aircraft-level certification. You will be responsible for defining requirements, managing the DO-254 compliance process, and executing rigorous verification and validation (V&V) campaigns for high-voltage inverters and motor control hardware. Your work ensures that our electric engines meet the stringent safety factors, environmental durability, and functional performance required for Part 33/Part 23 certification.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in hardware systems engineering, V&V, or AEH qualification in aerospace or similarly regulated industries (automotive ISO 26262).
• Deep technical understanding of power electronics, PMAC motor control, and inverter topologies.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing environmental and functional testing (DO-160, MIL-STD-810, or automotive equivalents).
• Proficiency with requirements management tools (Polarion, DOORS, Jama).
• Strong knowledge of DO-254 design assurance lifecycles and structured verification methodologies.
• Ability to interpret complex circuit schematics and perform root cause analysis on test failures.
• Excellent technical communication skills for interfacing with regulatory authorities and cross-functional design teams.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience certifying Engines under 14 CFR Part 33.
• Experience setting up or operating high-power dynamometers and HIL test benches.
• Knowledge of SAE ARP4754A (Systems Development) and ARP4761 (Safety Assessment/FMEA/FTA).

Responsibilities

• Partner with hardware designers to decompose aircraft-level functions into verifiable hardware requirements for inverters, gate drivers, and motor control logic.
• Manage requirements traceability using Polarion or DOORS, ensuring full coverage for safety-critical functions.
• Define robust hardware-to-software and hardware-to-mechanical interface control documents (ICDs).
• Generate and maintain AEH certification artifacts as required by DO-254 (Plan for Hardware Aspects of Certification, Hardware Design Plan, Hardware Accomplishment Summary).
• Coordinate with Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs) to review compliance data and substantiate design assurance levels (DAL A/B).
• Lead critical design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and ensure design decisions are justified via analysis and documented for certification.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level