Manager, Mass Properties

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.

Overview

As the Mass Properties Manager, you will provide strategic and technical leadership for the organization's weight and balance programs across all aircraft platforms. You will define and oversee the execution of the company's mass properties strategy, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and optimization throughout the product lifecycle.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and manage the Mass Properties Engineering team, setting objectives, mentoring engineers, and driving accountability for program deliverables.

• Develop and own the company-wide Mass Properties program plan, including processes and standards for tracking and reporting weight, center of gravity, and inertia data.

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive mass properties database supporting all aircraft models and their variants.

• Oversee data maturity and manage risks related to weight, balance, and compliance throughout the product lifecycle.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including design, structures, systems, and supply chain—to collect, validate, and analyze data that drives mass optimization and performance improvements.

• Direct the progression of mass properties maturity, ensuring accurate transition from estimated to measured data and oversight of audits and validation activities.

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives, implementing tools and processes that streamline data collection, analysis, and reporting.

• Provide executive-level reporting on mass properties status, risk posture, and program health to leadership and certification authorities.

• Support FAA certification activities, ensuring all weight and balance documentation meets regulatory standards.

What You’ll Bring

• To be successful at this role, you will possess the following traits/experience:

• To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related STEM discipline.

• At least 10 years of experience in Mass Properties Engineering, including 3+ years in leadership or technical management on an aircraft development program.

• Proven experience managing and executing weight and balance programs for complex dynamic systems, preferably aircraft.

• Demonstrated success in developing FAA-compliant mass properties reports and documentation.

• Strong leadership skills with experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and coordinating with suppliers to meet weight and performance goals.

• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities, capable of managing multiple programs and priorities simultaneously.

• Expertise in defining and implementing tools, processes, and methodologies that improve efficiency, data integrity, and reporting.

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience establishing a weight and balance program for a clean-sheet aircraft design.

• Familiarity with CAD tools such as NX, SolidWorks, or CATIA for drawing and model reviews.

• Experience conducting physical aircraft inspections and managing weighing operations.

• Direct involvement in type certification of an aircraft under 14 CFR Part 23 or Part 27.

• Experience with ARP4754A development processes.

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.

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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.