Staff Materials and Process Engineer, Coatings
Archer AviationSan Jose, California, United States$152k – $190kPosted 4 March 2026
Tech Stack
Job Description
<div class="content-intro"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p></div><p><strong>Position Overview</strong></p>
<p>We are seeking an experienced Aircraft Coatings Materials Subject Matter Expert (SME) to lead the development, qualification, and FAA certification of composite airframe materials and processes for our next-generation electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, certified under 14 CFR Part 23. This role is critical to ensure the safety, performance, and manufacturability of composite and metallic structures across the air vehicle. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in coating materials, process qualification, and supplier qualification. Additionally, the candidate is required to have a strong understanding of FAA certification requirements.</p>
<p><strong>What you’ll do</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Serve as the technical focal and authority on the development of coating systems used throughout the airframe.</li>
<li>Lead the development and qualification of coating systems, including material qualification, process specifications, and design guidelines.</li>
<li>Author and maintain material and process specifications, including test plans, qualification procedures, and documentation for FAA certification.</li>
<li>Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and certification teams to ensure aircraft structures meet corrosion protection and coating durability standards.</li>
<li>Support failure analysis, root cause investigations, and corrective actions.</li>
<li>Interface with FAA, DERs, and other regulatory bodies to support certification activities.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>What you’ll need</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Master’s degree in Materials, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.</li>
<li>Minimum 5 years of experience in aerospace paint materials and coating applications, with a strong track record of leadership in material qualification and aerospace certification.</li>
<li>Extensive experience with material qualification, specification creation, and process development for composite airframes.</li>
<li>Familiarity with FAA regulations, Advisory Circulars, ASTM standards, and MIL specifications.</li>
<li>Strong communication and project management skills.</li>
<li>Experience with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods is required.</li>
</ul>
<h5>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 support the Company's strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $152,000 - $190,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.</h5>
<h5><span style="font-weight: 400;">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 <a href="mailto:people@archer.com" target="_blank">people@archer.com</a>. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.</span></h5 ... (truncated, view full listing at source)
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