Staff Engineering Program Manager, UAS Programs

Archer Technologies
Archer Technologies

Operations

San Jose, CA, USA

USD 172,800-227,600 / year

Posted on Jul 31, 2026
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Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Archer is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), aviation-related physical artificial intelligence (“AI”) solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors.

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.

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 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.
Certain positions may be eligible for visa sponsorship.
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 People@archer.com. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.
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