A

Archer

Designs and sells electric VTOL aircraft

Corporate Development Director

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/3/2026
$235k - $285k
Expert
Bachelor's
San Jose, CA, USA
In Person
H1B Sponsorship Available

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 6 years of experience in investment banking, corporate development, private equity, strategy consulting, or a related industry requiring critical thinking, execution, and delivery, including direct exposure to live M&A or strategic transaction processes.
  • Strong financial modeling and valuation skills, including three-statement modeling, scenario analysis, and the ability to build models from scratch with imperfect information.
  • Ability to run a structured diligence process, including data room management, request list tracking, and cross-functional coordination.
  • Ability to distill complex commercial, technical, and financial concepts into clear, executive-ready materials.
  • High ownership and comfort operating in ambiguity, with the judgment to prioritize and drive workstreams independently in a fast-paced environment.
  • Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, engineering, or a related field.
Responsibilities
  • Build and maintain the M&A target pipeline, including sourcing and screening targets.
  • Conduct market research and strategic analysis across aerospace, defense, and aviation software sectors, including total addressable market analysis, market mapping, and competitive landscape assessments.
  • Develop financial models and valuation analyses to support deal structuring and investment decisions.
  • Own transaction due diligence, including drafting and tracking diligence request lists, managing virtual data rooms, coordinating cross-functional workstreams, and synthesizing findings into implications for deal terms.
  • Support transaction execution alongside outside counsel and financial advisors, including reviewing term sheets and definitive transaction documents.
  • Use AI tools to automate screening, diligence tracking, and research synthesis to increase the volume of deals the team can evaluate and execute.
  • Prepare executive-ready deliverables that translate complex analysis into clear recommendations.
  • Represent Archer at industry events, conferences, and trade shows to build relationships with potential targets, partners, and advisors.
  • Support the Corporate Development team on integration planning and execution.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience or interest in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or other hardware or deep-tech industries.
  • Fluency with market intelligence tools such as PitchBook, Capital IQ, or AlphaSense.

About the company

Archer designs and develops electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban transport. Its eVTOLs use electric propulsion to take off and land vertically, enabling compact, city-friendly air mobility that can serve urban commuters and feed into air taxi networks. The company sells its aircraft directly and may in the future generate revenue from air taxi services or related operations, blending aircraft sales with service fees. Archer differentiates itself by focusing on the urban air mobility market and pursuing a direct-sales approach paired with potential operation services, aiming to partner with city planners and transportation networks to integrate eco-friendly, on-demand urban transport. The goal is to advance sustainable, city-centered air mobility and help cities reduce congestion and pollution by offering practical, electric aerial transit.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

San Jose, California

Founded

2020

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Archer completed July 30, 2026 Salinas-to-Monterey flights, validating city-to-city operations.
  • August 2026 L.A. LIVE exclusive vertiport deal anchors LA28 visibility and infrastructure.
  • The Pentagon still values Archer’s $142 million Air Force contract and hybrid defense pivot.

What critics are saying

  • Joby’s September 2026 trade-secrets case survived, prolonging legal distraction and discovery costs.
  • Midnight still lacks FAA type certification, so 2026 passenger service remains unproven.
  • If certification or eIPP slips, Archer burns cash against $2.785 billion accumulated losses.

What makes Archer unique

  • Boeing’s August 2026 deal gives Archer Wisk, Insitu, SkyGrid, and Boeing backing.
  • Archer closed FAA Phase 3 first and received 100% Means of Compliance acceptance.
  • Its golden manufacturing line links Silicon Valley learning directly to Georgia production ramp.

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Benefits

Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↑ 3%

1 year growth

↑ 1%

2 year growth

↑ 0%
Yahoo Finance
Sep 29th, 2026
Archer Aviation uses 'golden manufacturing line' to scale Midnight eVTOL production

Archer Aviation is implementing a "golden manufacturing line" strategy to streamline its transition from early aircraft builds to high-volume production. The approach uses its Silicon Valley facility for final assembly during the initial phase whilst preparing its Georgia site for larger-scale manufacturing. The strategy enables Archer to identify production issues early and apply lessons from initial Midnight aircraft builds to its Georgia operation. The company is focusing internal development on key technologies including electric and hybrid propulsion systems, flight control software, and composites, whilst sourcing non-differentiating components from existing aerospace suppliers. This manufacturing approach aims to support a structured transition as Archer works towards certification and commercial deployment. The company is currently ramping up production capabilities across facilities in California and Georgia.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 26th, 2026
Pentagon shifts eVTOL focus to hybrid aircraft, Archer lands $142M Air Force contract

The Pentagon is shifting its eVTOL aircraft priorities towards hybrid propulsion and autonomous flight technologies, impacting contracts with Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation. Archer holds a contract with the US Air Force's Agility Prime programme valued at up to $142 million, whilst Joby's contract reached a potential $131 million. The Department of Defence reduced Joby's contract scope in 2025 as priorities changed. Joby is responding by acquiring defence contractor Resonant Sciences for approximately $500 million, which generated over $100 million in revenue over the previous 12 months. Archer has partnered with Anduril to develop Thunder, an autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL platform for military missions. In August, Archer announced plans to acquire Boeing's Insitu, Wisk Aero, and SkyGrid businesses, with Insitu alone generating over $200 million annually.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 16th, 2026
Joby leads Archer in FAA certification race with $53.4M revenue vs under $1M

Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, competitors in the electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft market, show stark differences in their price-to-sales ratios. Joby trades at 51 times this year's sales, whilst Archer trades at 278 times. The gap stems from revenue generation. Joby's revenue jumped from under $1 million in 2024 to $53.4 million in 2025, driven by US Air Force contracts and its acquisition of Blade Air Mobility's passenger business. Analysts expect Joby's revenue to reach $119.5 million in 2026. Archer generated less than $1 million in 2025, with projections of $15.1 million for 2026. Joby has reached the fifth stage of FAA certification, whilst Archer completed the third stage, positioning Joby closer to launching commercial flights in the US.

SBIR.gov
Sep 13th, 2026
Awards | SBIR

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Yahoo Finance
Sep 9th, 2026
Archer Aviation shares drop 14% after earnings despite revenue beat

Archer Aviation shares have fallen 14.1% in the month since its last earnings report. The company posted a second-quarter loss of 25 cents per share, matching estimates, whilst revenues of $5 million beat the consensus estimate of $2 million by 156%. The revenue increase was driven by expanded operations at Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles. Archer continues advancing towards commercial operations, completing piloted city-to-city Midnight flights and preparing for operations under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Programme. Operating expenses rose to $284.2 million as the company invested in certification, engineering and commercialisation efforts. Research and development expenses increased to $186 million from $122.4 million year-over-year, whilst general and administrative expenses climbed to $93.9 million from $53.7 million.