Structural Design Engineer, Test
Archer AviationSan Jose, California, United StatesPosted 1 April 2026
Tech Stack
Job Description
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 Structural Design Engineer at Archer, you will be responsible for designing fixtures, test equipment, and defining instrumentation in CAD. You will assist in assembling fixtures and conducting structural tests on flight-critical and other test articles. This will be a hands on position. These test programs will focus on various levels from allowables development, design, and methods validation, flight test artical verification, and full-scale destructive testing. This position will focus on validating the structural performance of a primarily composite aircraft.
Apply understanding of loads paths, design best practices, and hand calcs to design robust structural configurations
Create and review drawings, define project plans, procure parts, materials and equipment
Manage suppliers to design test fixtures and execute test programs
Create instrumentation definition, calibrate instrumentation, and install instrumentation on test articles.
Lead small test teams to drive programs to completion
Collect and analyze data from testing
Design test stands, fixtures, DAQs
Define testing procedures, SOPs, and best practices
Enforce safety and test protocol in the structural test lab
What you need:
5+ years of experience with lightweight structures (aircraft, spacecraft, other high-performance vehicles)
Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering field
Ability to design and analyze simple components
An understanding of load paths and laminate design fundamentals
Strong CAD skills in NX (preferred), Solidworks, Catia or Creo
Familiarity with PDM systems
Experience with the manufacturing of composite parts
Ability to lift 50lb+
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
Bonus qualifications:
5+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace structural analysis or testing.
Experience with NX and/or FEMAP/Nastran software.
Experience with Data Acquisition Software (LabVIEW, MTS, Load Star).
Prior hands-on experience with aircraft design, analysis, or structural testing.
Solid problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions quickly.
Experience using Instron, MTS, or other testing systems.
Experience with electronics, circuitry, and soldering.
A proven track record in airframe assembly and composite structure builds; EVTOL or experimental aircraft work is a strong plus.
Hands-on experience with structural testing.
Excellent communication skills, the ability to thrive in a rapid-iteration environment, and a bias toward action when solving complex, hands-on problems.
Knowledge of FAA aircraft certification test requirements for Part 23 / Part 27 aircraft.
Fabrication 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 presen ... (truncated, view full listing at source)
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