Senior Aerodynamics Modeling and Optimization Engineer
Archer
United States
November 22, 2025
Apply NowArcher 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:
- Perform low/mid/high fidelity aerodynamic simulations of Archer eVTOL aircraft
- Develop linear/non-linear aerodynamic models to predict aircraft behavior and performance throughout the flight envelope
- Analyze experimental data (either from flight test or wind tunnel) to identify sources of model errors, validate, and improve aerodynamic models of the vehicle
- Develop efficient methods to feed flight test data back into aerodynamic simulation models of various fidelity and complexity
- Contribute to the development of Archer aerodynamic software stack, improving methods and workflows
- Coordinate with other cross-functional teams and pilots for flight simulator aerodynamic modeling updates and issue resolution
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 modeling rotorcraft, tiltrotor, eVTOL aerodynamics at full-vehicle level
- Strong understanding of fundamentals of fixed-wing and rotorcraft aerodynamics, performance, stability & control
- Experience in eVTOL and/or multicopter vehicle aerodynamics design and analysis, including 6 DoF vehicle trimming and trajectory optimization
- Experience with gradient-based and gradient-free optimization techniques
- Experience with surrogate modeling techniques (like Kriging methods) and statistical analysis
- Experience with experimental data processing and reduction techniques
- 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 developing, training, and optimizing neural networks or other machine learning models in the context of aerodynamic modeling
- Experience with wind tunnel and flight test campaigns planning, execution, and data processing, ideally matured on rotorcraft, tiltrotor, eVTOL program
- Work experience with rotorcraft comprehensive analysis tools, such as RCAS or CAMRAD2
- Work experience with NASA Overflow and Fun3D CFD software, including meshing
- Experience utilizing high-performance computing (HPC) to parallelize workflows
- Familiarity with conventional airplane Part 23/25 or rotorcraft Part 27/29 certification basis and test methods
- 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. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.