Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Staff Backend Engineer, Platform Core

at Archer

🏢 About Archer

Archer is revolutionizing urban transportation by developing all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable air mobility. Unlike traditional tech companies, Archer combines aerospace engineering with cutting-edge software to solve complex transportation challenges in an environmentally conscious way. Working here means contributing to tangible climate solutions while building technology that will literally take flight.

About This Role

As a Senior Staff Backend Engineer on the Platform Core team, you'll architect and build the foundational services that power Archer's entire platform, including the Entity Registry, change tracking systems, and typed source connectors. This role is critical because every application team depends on your infrastructure through the Platform SDK, making your work essential for scaling the company's aviation technology. You'll focus on Go backend services, PostgreSQL optimization, and creating durable systems that handle mission-critical aviation data.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start your day reviewing performance metrics for the Entity Registry service, then collaborate with application teams to understand their Platform SDK needs. After a standup with the Platform Core team, you'd spend focused time designing a new typed connector for flight data systems, followed by code reviews of Go services that handle critical aviation data. The role balances deep technical work on PostgreSQL optimizations with cross-team collaboration to ensure the platform meets diverse application requirements.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Archer

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Archer Is Looking For

  • Has 8+ years of backend engineering experience with deep expertise in Go (strongly preferred) and building distributed systems at scale
  • Demonstrates proven experience with PostgreSQL performance tuning, database design, and building reliable data infrastructure
  • Has experience building platform-level services that other engineering teams consume through SDKs or APIs
  • Shows interest or experience in aviation, aerospace, or regulated industries where system reliability is paramount

📝 Tips for Applying to Archer

1

Highlight specific Go projects where you built scalable backend services, especially those involving PostgreSQL optimization

2

Demonstrate experience with platform engineering by describing SDKs or internal tools you've built for other engineering teams

3

Research Archer's eVTOL technology and mention how your backend experience could support aviation-specific requirements like data integrity and reliability

4

Emphasize any experience with regulated industries or systems where failure has serious consequences

5

Show how you've contributed to diversity and inclusion initiatives, as Archer specifically mentions this as a company value

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why you're passionate about sustainable transportation and how your backend expertise aligns with Archer's mission", 'Provide concrete examples of building platform-level services that other teams depend on, similar to the Entity Registry described in the role', 'Describe your experience with Go and PostgreSQL performance optimization in production environments', 'Highlight any experience with aviation, aerospace, or other safety-critical industries that require exceptionally reliable systems']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study Archer's Midnight aircraft specifications and understand how backend systems might support flight operations and passenger management
  • → Research the urban air mobility (UAM) industry and Archer's competitors (Joby, Lilium, etc.) to understand the market landscape
  • → Learn about FAA regulations for aviation software systems and how they might impact platform engineering decisions
  • → Review Archer's recent news, funding rounds, and partnerships to understand their growth trajectory and technical challenges

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Deep dive into your Go experience, including concurrency patterns, performance optimization, and building production services
2 PostgreSQL performance questions: indexing strategies, query optimization, replication, and high-availability setups
3 System design for platform services: how would you design a change tracking system or Entity Registry at scale?
4 Experience building SDKs or APIs consumed by other engineering teams and managing backward compatibility
5 Questions about working in regulated or safety-critical environments and your approach to system reliability
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only generic backend experience without highlighting Go expertise or platform engineering specifically
  • Failing to connect your technical experience to Archer's aviation context or sustainable transportation mission
  • Not demonstrating experience with building systems that other engineering teams depend on (the Platform SDK focus is crucial)

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Archer!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →