Director, Software Program Management
Job Description
Archer 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:
As Director of Software Program Management you will be managing a team of software program managers responsible for driving end-to-end delivery of safety critical software programs across flight control software, battery management, embedded systems, electric engine controls, vehicle control, ground infrastructure, and cloud-based systems. You will work cross-functionally with engineering, certification, systems integration, product, and leadership teams to ensure on-time, on-budget, and high-quality delivery of software components essential for certifying and operating our Archer Midnight aircraft.
- Own the strategy, planning and execution of all software development initiatives, ensuring alignment with company milestones and regulatory requirements
- Build and maintain strong relationships across different Archer engineering teams. Work with Software Engineering Managers and Technical Leads to boost communication and solve problems.
- Develop task-based schedules and track progress against the program plan.
- Identify and manage project Risks, Issues and Opportunities.
- Relentlessly drive on-time execution
- Communicate regularly with stakeholders, providing updates on project milestones, risks, and issues. Prepare and present project reports, status updates, and performance metrics to senior leadership and key stakeholders. Specific tools include Earned Value Tracking and Jira.
- Support and lead software change control boards to manage project scope and drive team focus.
- Identify areas for process improvement and implement solutions to drive team efficiency and productivity.
- Compare actual performance against planned performance to identify variances and actively manage team deliverables.
- Champion modern program management tools and agile/hybrid development methodologies appropriate for safety-critical aerospace software
- Hire, lead, mentor and develop a team of software program managers fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
- Develop processes to improve the efficiency, reliability and repeatability of developing, testing and deploying software with your team
What You Need:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or in a related field or equivalent industry experience.
- Minimum 10+ years related New Product Introduction (NPI) experience in aerospace, automotive, defense or related safety-critical industry.
- Deep familiarity with systems engineering practices, software lifecycle standards (e.g., V-model, DO-178C), and agile development
- Understanding of software development process and experience with embedded software development.
- Proven track record managing complex, multi-disciplinary software projects from concept through certification and/or product release
- Familiarization with Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or other scheduling software.
- Familiarization with Atlassian Jira and Confluence for task management and collaborative documentation.
- Ability to operate in an ambiguous environment with little direction.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Have directly managed software program managers in the past
Bonus Qualifications:
- Experience with development of aerospace flight control systems, battery management systems, electric engine control systems, and/or vehicle management systems.
- Aerospace software certification experience and/or experience working with DO-178C.
- Prior experience with FAA Part 23/27/33 certification processes or advanced air mobility (AAM) regulatory frameworks
Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications
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. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $180,000 - $245,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as 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 [email protected]. 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.
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 [email protected]. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.
Company Information
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Type: Hybrid