Application Guide
How to Apply for Flight Test Planning Specialist
at Archer
🏢 About Archer
Archer is a Silicon Valley-based aerospace company building electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to revolutionize urban air mobility, with a focus on climate-friendly air taxis and unmanned systems. They are also developing aviation-related AI solutions and serve commercial aerospace and defense sectors. Working here means being at the forefront of next-gen aviation, solving hard engineering problems with a diverse and inclusive team.
About This Role
As a Flight Test Planning Specialist, you will develop flight test plans that directly trace to FAA certification requirements, ensuring test objectives, success criteria, and instrumentation are clearly defined and defensible to regulators. You will collaborate with subsystem engineers to understand design intent and failure modes, translate that into test procedures, and lead Test Readiness Reviews to confirm readiness. This role is critical for safely and efficiently certifying Archer's eVTOL aircraft.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing subsystem design documents to identify failure modes, drafting test objectives and success criteria for an upcoming flight test, and coordinating with instrumentation engineers to define data needs. You might also lead a Test Readiness Review with cross-functional teams, ensuring all safety and operational inputs are addressed before a test point is cleared to fly. Throughout, you'll document plans and procedures that will be scrutinized by regulators, balancing technical rigor with practical execution.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Archer Is Looking For
- Experience developing flight test plans for FAA certification, preferably in eVTOL, UAV, or advanced aerospace programs.
- Strong understanding of aircraft systems, failure modes, and risk analysis, with the ability to translate engineering data into test procedures.
- Proven track record leading or supporting Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) and coordinating cross-functional teams.
- Excellent technical writing skills for authoring test plans, procedures, and matrices, with attention to regulatory compliance.
📝 Tips for Applying to Archer
Highlight any direct experience with FAA certification processes, especially in Part 23 or Part 27, and mention specific aircraft programs you've supported.
Emphasize your ability to work cross-functionally with subsystem engineers, safety, and operations—Archer values collaboration in their test planning.
Show familiarity with eVTOL or electric aircraft technologies; even if you haven't worked on eVTOL, demonstrate how your flight test experience transfers.
Include examples of test plans you've authored that were accepted by regulators, and quantify their impact (e.g., reduced test time, improved safety).
Demonstrate alignment with Archer's mission of sustainable urban air mobility; mention any prior work in green aviation or advanced air mobility.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience developing flight test plans that trace to FAA certification basis requirements, with specific examples.', 'Your ability to partner with subsystem engineering to understand design intent and failure modes, and translate that into effective test procedures.', 'Your experience leading or supporting Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) and coordinating inputs from engineering, safety, and operations.', "Your passion for Archer's mission to revolutionize urban transport with climate-friendly eVTOL aircraft, and how your skills contribute to that."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Archer's current aircraft programs, especially the Maker and Midnight eVTOL models, and their certification progress with the FAA.
- → The FAA's certification basis for eVTOL aircraft (e.g., Part 23/Part 27 adaptations) and how flight test planning fits into the overall certification process.
- → Archer's recent partnerships, funding, and milestones (e.g., with United Airlines, Stellantis) to understand their business trajectory.
- → Archer's company culture and values, particularly their emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and sustainability, to align your application with their mission.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not demonstrating specific knowledge of FAA certification requirements for eVTOL or advanced aircraft—generic flight test experience may not be enough.
- Failing to show cross-functional collaboration skills; this role requires working closely with engineering, safety, and operations, so highlighting solo work only is a red flag.
- Ignoring Archer's mission and the unique aspects of eVTOL flight testing; candidates who don't show enthusiasm for urban air mobility may be seen as a poor fit.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!