Senior Staff Program Manager, Certification

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 you’ll do:

As a member of our Program Management team you will report to the Certification Program Manager in the Archer Program Management Office and help guide the certification efforts for our first certified aircraft. You are the Program Manager that will guide the overall certification efforts by the technical teams and certification engineers to completion.  You will assist or lead these certification efforts on domestic or international certification programs through all phases of the type certification program.  This includes the following:

• Lead the development, execution, and management of the overall certification project plan, ensuring it aligns with regulatory requirements and internal timelines 
• Maintain and manage an integrated schedule, including key certification milestones (PDR, CDR, FAA milestones, compliance reports, etc.)
• Serve as a program liaison with FAA and other certification foreign authorities, managing various aspects of submission, review, and approval processes
• Coordinate with Designated Engineering Representatives (DER) for compliance related activities
• Coordinate cross‑functional certification activities involving engineering, quality, system engineering, integrated test, and configuration management
• Track and produce metrics, dashboards, status reports, and forecasts for leadership
• Coordinate and oversee preparation of regulatory submission packages to support certification deliverables with the certification engineering team
• Collaborate with program leadership to develop and track budget, schedule, resource allocations, and recovery plans as needed
• Manage risk, issue, opportunity, and change management activities and frameworks
• Work directly with the product teams and certification engineering to establish designs, development, and certification plans for Type Certification
• Support meetings with regulatory authorities; prepare briefing materials, and ensure completion of action items

What you need:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Systems, Engineering, or similar technical discipline
• 7+ years of hands‑on experience leading civil certification programs for aircraft
• Previous experience with Part 23, 8110.4c, AC 20-107, AC 23-19 and other applicable regulations and guidance materials 
• Working knowledge of 14 CFR parts applicable to certification (e.g. 23/25/27/33, etc.) and associated Advisory Circulars or policy letters
• Experience in developing and executing certification plans
• Experience interacting and communicating directly with FAA or other airworthiness authorities
• Experience with scheduling and managing a certification project from concept through type certification
• Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills—able to translate highly technical certification content into clear, compliance-grade deliverables 

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience as an FAA DER or ODA unit member
• Direct experience with FAA Conformity
• PMP certification or equivalent
• Experience with eVTOL, powered-lift, or other special class aircraft development
• Experience with the Issue Paper process 

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 $186,240.00 - $232,800.00. 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.

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.