Staff Engineering Program Manager - UAS Programs

About the Role

This role is all about engineering execution of complex aircraft from concept to flight with a strategic mindset. In a typical week you might write a staffing plan, settle a priority conflict between two programs, and work an integration problem on the hangar floor.

Program Execution

• Work with the leadership team to understand the integrated roadmap.
• Translate priorities into clear direction for each engineering team: what matters most, what can wait, and why.
• Drive execution on UAS programs, including customer milestones, deliverables, and program reviews.
• Partner with engineering leaders to define quick-turn hardware build sequences and the build/test/iterate cadence.
• Identify cross-system dependencies and risks early, and take issues found in build or test to root cause and closure.
• Own the integrated schedule, critical path, and build plan across structures, propulsion, flight controls, avionics, electrical, and thermal.
• Develop headcount and staffing plans across the UAS org. Match skills to program needs, find gaps, and work with recruiting to close them.
• Build and manage program budgets, tracking actuals against plan and forecasting needs for capital, materials, and test.
• Manage builds end to end: hardware readiness, procurement and supplier dependencies, build-up, ground test, and test readiness.
• Be willing to do whatever the program needs: work an interface issue with a design engineer, chase a long-lead part, write the first draft of a requirements document, or stand up a test readiness review.

Operating Rhythm

• Run program update meetings that are decision-oriented, and focused on actions.
• Write short, clear communication for each audience: executive summaries up, alignment with peers across functions, and clear direction down to the teams.
• Build nimble and necessary program management processes, tools, and cadences the UAS org will carry from early prototypes into larger, more mature programs.

What You Need

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 5-10 years of engineering experience delivering complex hardware products, with a strong systems integration background. Aerospace, automotive, robotics, energy, or any other industry with large, complex systems all count.
• Demonstrated experience integrating multiple subsystems into a complete vehicle, aircraft, or system.
• A track record of building and managing cross-functional schedules with many dependencies, and of delivering hardware milestones against them.
• Experience with roadmapping and prioritization: deciding what to build and in what order, grounded in market, customer, and business needs.
• Hands-on experience with headcount planning, budget management, and build or production planning.
• The ability to work alongside design and build teams to troubleshoot and resolve problems directly, rather than only tracking them.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including briefing senior leadership and driving alignment across engineering teams without direct authority.
• A builder's mindset: comfortable with ambiguity, quick to learn new domains, and eager to fill gaps.

Bonus Requirements

• Advanced degree in engineering
• Experience on a clean-sheet, demonstrator, subscale, or experimental aircraft or vehicle program.
• End to end program management experience delivering a complex hardware system
• Experience with government or defense programs, such as customer program reviews, contract deliverables, and milestone-based funding.
• Product management or product strategy experience in a hardware company.
• Familiarity with uncrewed aircraft systems, autonomy, or hybrid-electric propulsion.
• Hands-on experience with aircraft build-up, ground test, and flight test support.

At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent with the skills and leadership needed to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $172,800 - $227,600. Actual compensation offered will be determined by 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 [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.