Vehicle Architect — Conceptual Sizing

The role

You will own the conceptual sizing and configuration of a next-generation aircraft. You will build optimization models and integrate inputs from structures, powertrain, and aerodynamics into a unified framework.

What you will do

• Build and maintain vehicle-level conceptual sizing and optimization models and tools.
• Evolve Archer's vehicle-level conceptual sizing and MDO methodology.
• Lead configuration trade studies across different use cases and missions.
• Work with product, systems engineering, and customers to shape missions and support requirements definition.
• Own the vehicle mass properties rollup, sizing convergence loop, and margin management.
• Serve as a technical point of contact with customers and partners.
• Support technical volumes, cost estimates, and schedule inputs for proposals and reviews.

Required qualifications

• Strong proficiency in Python.
• Strong proficiency with multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) frameworks, for example, OpenMDAO, AeroSandbox, SUAVE, GPkit, Dymos, or similar.
• Demonstrated experience sizing actual aircraft that have flown.
• Experience integrating multi-disciplinary inputs into an overall vehicle sizing and optimization model.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with MIL specs and/or FARs.

Nice to have

• Experience with two or more of the following: rotor and/or propeller aerodynamic and structural sizing, hybrid-electric powertrain sizing and configuration trades, electric propulsion systems, convent
• Experience with surrogate modeling techniques.
• Experience running analyses on high-performance computing (HPC) resources.
• Experience with geometry parameterization for conceptual design.

About the company

Archer is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform. They deliver air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems, and aviation-related physical artificial intelligence solutions.