---
title: 'Powertrain Architect — Hybrid-Electric Propulsion at Archer'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/powertrain-architect-hybrid-electric-propulsion-archer-san-jose-california-4brez5mza5as'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Powertrain Architect — Hybrid-Electric Propulsion at Archer

- **Company:** Archer
- **Location:** San Jose California, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/archer56/jobs/7982301003

## Job description

Archer is an aerospace and defense company headquartered in San Jose, California, building the aircraft and technology that will define the next era of flight. The company works across air taxis, UAS, AI and powertrain development — building real-world systems that combine software intelligence with physical hardware. That includes Midnight, Archer's all-electric air taxi; Halo, an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft built for both commercial and defense use; and ZEE, Archer's AI foundation model built specifically for aviation. We’re seeking exceptional engineers, operators and builders to join us on our mission to build the future of aerospace and defense.

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.

## THE ROLE

As Powertrain Architect, you will evaluate and size the hybrid-electric propulsion system for a next-generation eVTOL — spanning combustion engine selection, electromagnetic sizing, thermal management, and battery behavior — and contribute the resulting models into Archer's broader vehicle-level sizing and optimization stack. You will work closely with the Vehicle and Structures Architects to close the powertrain within the overall vehicle concept.

## WHAT YOU'LL DO

- Evaluate and trade hybrid-electric powertrain architectures (series, parallel, turbo-electric), integrating battery energy storage and electric motors/inverters, with a turboshaft-driven generator as one of the configurations considered.
- Size electric motors and generators from first principles, validating and refining designs with electromagnetic solvers as needed.
- Size the thermal management system architecture — heat exchangers, ducting, and coolant line routing — for all major powertrain components, using thermal/CFD tools as needed.
- Generate performance and efficiency maps for electric motors and generators across the operating envelope.
- Model battery charge and discharge behavior (C-rates, thermal behavior, degradation) to inform sizing and duty-cycle decisions.
- Estimate thermal limits and duty cycles for motors, inverters, and batteries across representative mission profiles.
- Build powertrain models suitable for integration into Archer's larger vehicle-level MDO stack, supporting the vehicle-level sizing and performance predictions led by the Vehicle Architect.
- Collaborate with the structures and vehicle architects on packaging, weight, and integration of the full powertrain stack.

## WHAT YOU'LL NEED

- Background in hybrid-electric, turbo-electric, or conventional turbine aircraft propulsion (aerospace or adjacent high-power industries).
- Some background in optimization, including multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO), is necessary.
- Experience in at least two of the following three areas is required: electromagnetic sizing of motors/generators; thermal management system sizing; battery modeling (equivalent-circuit or electrochemical).
- Proficiency with electromagnetic design tools such as ANSYS Maxwell, Motor-CAD, JMAG, or similar is desired.
- Proficiency with thermal/CFD design tools such as ANSYS Icepak, Fluent, or similar is desired.
- Strong Python proficiency for powertrain modeling and trade studies is strongly preferred.
- Turboshaft/turbine integration experience is desired.

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 - $237,600. 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](https://archer.com/legal/personnel-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 People@archer.com. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.

## About Archer

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Archer is developing and manufacturing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to create a sustainable air taxi service for urban mobility.
- **Entity Type**: Public (NYSE: ACHR)
- **Headquarters**: San Jose, California, United States
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: Adam Goldstein, Brett Adcock [linkedin.com]

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Airlines and Aviation / eVTOL aircraft manufacturing and operations
- **Target customers**: Airline operators, urban commuters, and corporate partners (B2B and B2C)
- **Mission or purpose**: Advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility by creating a quick, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective electric airline [greenhouse.io]

## Products & Services
- **Midnight eVTOL Aircraft**: A fully electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed to carry passengers with minimal noise, range up to 100 miles at speeds up to 150 mph. Dual-mode capability (VTOL and CTOL) [linkedin.com]
- **Archer Airline Operations**: Vertically integrated airline service intended to operate air taxi flights in cities globally.
- **Archer FBO (Fixed Base Operator)**: Acquired Hawthorne Airport FBO in Los Angeles, offering full airport services [linkedin.com]

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: $2.0 billion (as of mid-2026) [linkedin.com]
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue $300,000; Total funding raised $2.83 billion (post-IPO equity rounds from Stellantis, United Airlines, BlackRock) [linkedin.com]
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Stellantis, United Airlines, BlackRock; partnerships include United Airlines (200 aircraft order), UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (certification program), White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program [linkedin.com]
- **Growth Signals**: 1,158 employees (+44.5% YoY); US operations expected to begin in 2026 under eIPP; expanded flight test program with daily piloted flights; certification progress in UAE; Florida air taxi bill passed [linkedin.com]

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertically integrated** – designs, manufactures, and operates its own aircraft and airline, controlling the full stack.
- **Dual-mode aircraft** capable of both vertical and conventional takeoff/landing, increasing operational flexibility.
- **Strong strategic partnerships** with major airlines (United) and automotive OEM (Stellantis) provide capital, manufacturing expertise, and distribution.
- **First-mover status** in eVTOL certification and commercialization in the US and UAE.

## Strategic Focus
- Launch commercial air taxi operations in US cities in 2026 under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
- Achieve type certification with FAA and international regulators (UAE GCAA).
- Expand manufacturing scale with Stellantis partnership and build out vertiport infrastructure.
- Continue aircraft testing and data collection to validate safety and performance.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Fast-paced, mission-driven environment at the forefront of sustainable aviation and electric transportation.
- **Work environment**: Primarily on-site at San Jose, CA HQ; additional offices in Palo Alto, CA; Salinas, CA; Huntington Beach, CA; and Hampshire, UK. Remote/hybrid policy not explicitly stated.
- **Notable perks**: Not explicitly listed; emphasis on engineering innovation, flight test operations, and cross-disciplinary teams (AI, software, hardware, design).
- **Engineering culture**: 704 employees in technical roles (39%); active hiring for backend, AI, embedded, systems engineering, and flight sciences roles. Strong talent poaching from Tesla, Apple, Joby, Boeing, Lockheed Martin [linkedin.com]
- **Employee rating**: 3.7/5.0 (118 reviews) – Career 3.8, Compensation 3.7, Culture 3.4, Work-Life 3.0 [linkedin.com]

## Sources
1. [archer.com](https://www.archer.com)
2. [greenhouse.io](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/archer56/jobs/7625743003)
3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/flyarcher)

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