Director of Flight Software & Algorithms

About the Role

The Director of Flight Software & Algorithms leads the teams that own Archer's core flight software, guidance/navigation/control (GNC) algorithms, autonomy, powertrain software, and the safety-critical onboard systems that fly our aircraft. This is a product-centric, deep-domain leadership role with end-to-end ownership — from control law and estimation algorithm to certified, airworthy software running on the aircraft.

We are building the most advanced and the most AI-native flight software organization in aerospace. This leader will not simply apply established DO-178C practice — they will help reinvent it, using AI, automation, and modern software methods to compress the path from algorithm to certified flight while raising the safety bar. The mandate is explicit: change how flight-critical software and GNC are built in this industry, and prove that velocity and airworthiness are not a tradeoff.

"One foot in software, one foot in systems." You will drive technical strategy, execution, and cross-functional alignment across Software, Avionics, Flight Controls, and Flight Test.

• Lead and grow the Flight Software & Algorithms organization — embedded flight software, GNC, autonomy, powertrain software, and simulation — managing managers and senior technical leaders.
• Own the architecture, development, integration, and verification of all flight-critical and safety-critical software, from requirements to airworthiness.
• Drive the design of GNC algorithms, state estimation, fault detection and isolation, and flight-control logic for a novel eVTOL configuration across hover, transition, and forward flight.
• Oversee real-time embedded software for flight computers, motor/powertrain controllers, sensors, and avionics.
• Make Archer's flight software AI-native: champion AI-assisted development, model-based design, automated requirements-to-code-to-test traceability, and learning-enabled control and autonomy — always inside a rigorous safety and certification envelope.
• Partner with the AI-Native Engineering Platform & DevSecOps organization to exploit code-to-flight CI/CD, automated verification, and AI tooling that compound your team's velocity.
• Establish and mature software development and assurance processes aligned with DO-178C, DO-330, ARP4754A, and ARP4761.
• Ensure robust simulation, modeling, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments for rapid, safe iteration.
• Represent the organization in design reviews, certification discussions (DER/ODA), and executive-level program updates.
• Build a culture of technical excellence, extreme ownership, honest debate, and "build like lives depend on it."

• Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
• 12+ years in flight software, embedded systems, GNC, controls, or autonomy for aerospace, defense, spacecraft, or autonomous vehicles.
• 5+ years of engineering leadership managing managers and senior technical leaders, with a track record of scaling high-performing teams.
• Proven delivery of safety-critical, real-time embedded software for aircraft, spacecraft, or autonomous vehicles.
• Deep command of control theory, estimation, navigation, and flight-control algorithms.
• Strong working knowledge of DO-178C, ARP4754A/ARP4761, and safety-critical development and assurance.
• Demonstrated ability to set technical direction and drive execution in a fast-moving environment.

• Experience with eVTOL, electric propulsion, or novel aircraft configurations.
• Demonstrated use of AI/ML, learning-based control, advanced perception, or autonomy in real systems — and a clear point of view on doing so safely.
• Experience modernizing flight-software development with automation, model-based methods, or AI-assisted tooling.
• HIL testing, simulation frameworks, RTOS, and tool qualification (DO-330).
• Prior involvement in aircraft certification programs (DER/ODA interaction).

• A leader who believes velocity is a feature, not a tradeoff — and that better, faster engineering makes aircraft safer.
• Conviction that AI will reshape aerospace software, paired with the rigor to deploy it responsibly.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity, build structure where needed, debate on merit, and commit fully.
• Passion for aviation and sustainable transportation.