Sr. Aerodynamics Engineer, Propeller

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:

• Operate as the Aerodynamics team’s focal point for propellers


• Own the multidisciplinary design, optimization, and analysis of advanced propellers from initial concept development to final loft release


• Develop and maintain tools to design and analyze propellers for existing and future Archer aircraft programs

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams during design phase to establish propeller specifications that meet safety standards and performance targets

• Support the verification of propeller performance and requirements at both system and aircraft levels through wind tunnel experiments and flight test


• Contribute to the development of linear/non-linear aerodynamic models to predict aircraft behavior and performance throughout the flight envelope

• Contribute to the development of Archer aerodynamic software stack, improving methods and workflows

What you need:

• BS / MS / PhD in Aerospace Engineering or a related field


• 4+ years of experience with BS, or 3+ years of experience with MS, or 1+ years of experience with PhD designing and modeling helicopter / tiltrotor rotors and/or eVTOL propellers


• Strong understanding of fundamentals of rotor/propeller aerodynamics and acoustics in both axial- and edgewise-flow conditions


• Strong understanding of interactional aerodynamic effects such as rotor-airframe and rotor-rotor


• Experience in aerodynamic and acoustic design of rotors and/or propellers


• Experience with low-/mid-/high-fidelity aerodynamic simulation tools for predicting performance and loads of rotors and/or propellers


• Experience in multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) techniques applied to the design and analysis of rotors and/or propellers


• Experience in numerical optimization techniques such as gradient-based and/or genetic algorithms 


• Proficiency in Python programming


• Experience with software development, object-oriented, version control best practices, as well as Git, CICD, Conda


• Excellent work planning and issue resolution skills


• Strong technical, written, and verbal communication skills


• Ability to work in groups and individually


• Experience in a fast-paced design environment

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience with wind tunnel testing and data processing of rotors and/or propellers


• Work experience with comprehensive analysis tools such as RCAS or CAMRAD2


• Work experience with NASA Overflow and Fun3D CFD software, including meshing


• Experience with surface parametrization and lofting


• Experience utilizing high-performance computing (HPC) to parallelize workflows


• Familiarity with Part 23 certification basis


• Familiarity with ASTM standards for fixed wing and rotorcraft


• Familiarity with Matlab/Simulink, and Fortran/C++ coding

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 $150,000 - $190,000. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.