Senior Counsel, Employment

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.

We are developing the technologies and aircraft to power the future of advanced aviation. We plan to provide customers with advanced aircraft and. related technologies and services in the United States and internationally in both the commercial and defense sectors. We unveiled our first planned production aircraft, an electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) air taxi, called Midnight, in November 2022. In December 2024, we launched Archer Defense, to develop a next-generation aircraft for both defense and civilian applications. We are first and foremost working to commercialize our Midnight air taxi in and around major cities around the world.

Our strategy has been and continues to be to hire top talent across various disciplines to build the best products and deliver the best services possible. We believe we have assembled a world-class team with extensive experience across the key disciplines. We embrace collaboration and creativity and encourage the iteration of ideas to address the complex challenges our industry faces. We believe our team and culture differentiates us versus our competitors and will be a key driver of our long-term success. Furthermore, we are committed to making safety a part of everything we do. Our approach to safety is a part of every aspect of our company, from design and engineering to our manufacturing, flight test, and aircraft operations.

Archer Aviation seeks an experienced Senior Counsel, Employment. This role will oversee and manage all employment law matters across the company. The ideal candidate will provide strategic, practical, and business-oriented legal advice in a fast-paced, innovative environment. 

What you’ll do: 

• Provide proactive and practical legal advice on all employment-related issues, including hiring, compensation and benefits, termination, discipline, performance management, wage and hour compliance, workers compensation, OSHA, leave administration, investigations, and related disputes.
• Develop and implement company policies, handbooks, employment agreements, and training, to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as Archer's culture and values. Stay up to date on legal developments and regulatory changes
• Collaborate with the Human Resources, Finance, and other business teams to implement sound legal practices, mitigate risk and improve operational efficiencies

What you need:

• A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and a minimum of 8-10 years of experience practicing employment law, preferably with a mix of law firm and in-house experience. 
• Experience with government contracts and related regulatory and international frameworks. Governmental agency experience preferred
• Preferred candidate will have experience with immigration and mobility, as part of growing international operations and scaling related head count and HR function
• Preferred candidate will have proficiency with Ironclad contract management platform, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite 
• Must be a self-starter with the ability to work independently, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and exercise sound business judgment. 
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end HR legal function, with excellent writing, communication, collaboration, problem-solving skills, negotiation, analytical and interpersonal skills
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Licensed in at least one U.S. state or eligibility to register as in-house counsel

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 $250,000 - $300,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. 

By applying, you agree to be bound by our candidate privacy policy.

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.