Application Guide

How to Apply for Software Engineer

at Archer

🏢 About Archer

Archer is pioneering urban air mobility with electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, aiming to transform city transportation while prioritizing sustainability. Working here means contributing to cutting-edge aviation technology that could redefine how people commute, combining aerospace innovation with software development in a mission-driven environment.

About This Role

This Software Engineer role involves full ownership of web and mobile applications from concept to deployment, with a focus on building scalable systems using Next.js, React, and Python. You'll directly impact Archer's platform development, collaborating with aviation experts to create software that supports real-world eVTOL operations.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve refining a React Native component for the passenger app, collaborating with aviation experts on flight data requirements, and deploying a Python microservice to AWS. You'll balance immediate feature development with long-term architecture decisions for a platform supporting actual eVTOL operations.

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🎯 Who Archer Is Looking For

  • Has built complete applications from frontend (React/Next.js) to backend (Python/PostgreSQL) and deployed them on cloud platforms like AWS or Azure
  • Demonstrates experience with serverless/microservices architecture, ideally in aviation, transportation, or other real-time systems
  • Shows evidence of end-to-end product ownership through projects or previous roles, not just coding tasks
  • Possesses either a 4-year engineering degree or substantial proof of technical achievement (e.g., open-source contributions, complex personal projects)

📝 Tips for Applying to Archer

1

Highlight specific projects where you used Next.js, React Native, and Python together, especially if they involved real-time data or scalability challenges

2

Quantify your experience with 'end-to-end ownership'—mention features you designed, built, tested, and deployed independently

3

Research Archer's Midnight aircraft and mention how your software experience could apply to aviation systems (e.g., real-time tracking, fleet management)

4

If you lack a formal degree, prepare a portfolio with 2-3 detailed examples of 'outstanding technical achievement' (e.g., a complex app, optimization work, or open-source contributions)

5

Tailor your resume to include keywords like 'serverless,' 'microservices,' and 'cloud hyperscalers' (AWS/Azure/GCP), as Archer explicitly values infrastructure experience

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why you're passionate about sustainable transportation and how software can enable eVTOL adoption", "Describe a past project where you balanced scalability, speed, and reliability—key architecture concerns for Archer's platform", 'Highlight cross-functional collaboration experience, especially with non-engineering teams (e.g., designers, domain experts)', 'If applicable, connect your background to aviation or real-time systems (e.g., IoT, logistics, mapping)']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study Archer's Midnight aircraft specifications and pilot partnerships (e.g., with United Airlines) to understand the operational context
  • → Review Archer's sustainability reports or press releases to grasp their climate-friendly mission beyond just 'electric aircraft'
  • → Explore the urban air mobility (UAM) competitive landscape (e.g., Joby, Lilium) to understand industry technical challenges
  • → Watch Archer's demo videos or investor presentations to see their software interfaces in action

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a real-time flight status dashboard using Next.js and React, considering high scalability?
2 Describe your experience with PostgreSQL optimization for high-write workloads (relevant for aircraft telemetry data)
3 How do you approach trade-offs between speed and reliability when building microservices for a safety-critical industry?
4 Walk through a past project where you worked with non-technical stakeholders (e.g., aviation experts) to refine requirements
5 What cloud infrastructure choices would you make for a global eVTOL platform, and why?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with a generic resume that doesn't mention Next.js, React Native, Python, or PostgreSQL—Archer's stack is non-negotiable
  • Focusing only on frontend or backend experience without showcasing full-stack ownership (they emphasize 'end-to-end')
  • Ignoring the aviation context—failing to mention how your skills apply to transportation, logistics, or real-time systems

📅 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!

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