Program Manager, GNC SoftwareArcher 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.Archer is seeking an experienced GNC Engineering Project Manager to lead program execution within our Guidance, Navigation & Control discipline. You will be the primary driver of schedule, delivery, and cross-team coordination for all GNC deliverables — spanning flight control laws, state estimation, navigation systems, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing infrastructure.
This is a deeply technical program management role that requires both aerospace domain fluency and exceptional organizational leadership. You will partner closely with GNC engineers, Systems Engineering, Flight Test, Software, and Certification to ensure GNC milestones support the overall Midnight aircraft development and certification program.Own and maintain the GNC integrated master schedule (IMS), encompassing control law development, state estimation, software releases, HIL/SIL test campaigns, and flight test readiness milestonesDevelop detailed work breakdown structures (WBS) for GNC workstreams; decompose engineering deliverables into trackable tasks with clear owners and due datesTrack and report on ticket velocity, backlog health, and closure rates using Jira or equivalent toolsProactively identify schedule risks, model impacts, and drive mitigation plans in coordination with GNC technical leads and program leadershipAlign GNC sub-schedules with the aircraft-level IMS and certification plan; surface conflicts early and facilitate resolution across disciplinesServe as the primary interface between the GNC engineering team and adjacent disciplines including Powertrain, Flight Software, Systems Engineering, Flight Test, and CertificationFacilitate weekly GNC program reviews, sprint ceremonies, and monthly milestone gate reviews; own meeting agendas, minutes, and action trackingCoordinate GNC inputs into aircraft-level PDRs, CDRs, software milestones, and certification compliance reviews; ensure teams are prepared and documentation is delivered on timeManage dependencies between GNC software releases and HIL/SIL test infrastructure; track readiness gates for each flight test campaignTrack GNC headcount, contractor spend, tooling, and simulation infrastructure costs against approved budgets; report actuals and forecasts monthlySupport engineering resource planning — identify staffing gaps, coordinate with recruiting for open roles, and manage onboarding timelines to protect scheduleDevelop and maintain estimates at completion (EACs) for GNC program elements; flag budget risks to exec stakeholders with recommended actionsMaintain a GNC-specific risk register; facilitate risk review meetings with the technical team and escalate critical risks to program leadershipIdentify gaps in development processes and technical decision-making; propose well-informed, actionable next stepsDrive closure of open actions and decisions through disciplined follow-up; own the GNC RAID log (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Decisions)Support trade study and make/buy decisions for GNC tools and infrastructure (e.g., simulation platforms, sensor suites)Coordinate GNC contributions to FAA certification activities including DO-178C software certification, DO-331 model-based development, and ARP4754A system development assuranceTrack GNC compliance matrix items, DER review milestones, and Stage of Involvement (SOI) audit schedules; ensure the team meets certification commitmentsSupport configuration management and document control processes for GNC design documentation, test reports, and software baselinesThis Role reports directly to the Director of SW Programs.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 $199,000.00 - $248,800.00. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.