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# Lead Platform Design & Integration Engineer - Special Programs

- **Company:** ARCHER
- **Location:** New Haven, CT, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $138,200.0 - $190,100.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Computing Platforms, Configuration Management, Network Interface Controllers, Rapid Prototyping Process
- **Published:** August 4, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=bf5511b9a75ebf12

## About the Role

* Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering (advanced degree a plus)
 * Demonstrated experience in vehicle-level configuration design and cross-discipline integration for aerospace platforms
 * Familiarity with interface control, configuration management, and whole-vehicle trade studies
 * Demonstrated ability to work across the full development lifecycle - concept through prototype - in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment
 * Experience or strong aptitude for evaluating technical feasibility of early-stage concepts, not just executing against defined requirements
 * Comfort operating as a generalist when needed - willingness and ability to contribute outside your core focus area in support of program needs
 * Ability to work independently with significant technical ownership and no direct-report support structure
 * 8-12 years of relevant engineering experience (or equivalent demonstrated experience in rapid-prototyping / advanced-programs environments)
 * Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee), as defined by ITAR/EAR
 * Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance

## Description

Special Programs is Archer's rapid-prototyping, cross-functional engineering team supporting advanced and defense-focused development efforts. We operate as a small, empowered group capable of moving quickly across disciplines - from early technical assessment of new opportunities through hands-on design, analysis, and prototype development.

The Lead Special Programs Engineer - Platform Design & Integration brings deep integration and configuration design expertise as their organic core competency - owning how prototype vehicles come together as a whole, from configuration layout through cross-discipline integration.

What You'll Do

 * Lead vehicle-level integration and configuration design for prototype vehicles, including overall configuration layout, packaging, and cross-discipline interface management
 * Support rapid prototyping efforts end-to-end, from concept configuration through detailed integration, build support, and test
 * Own the integration and design discipline within Special Programs - setting technical approach, standards, and integration methods used across the program's vehicle-level work
 * Conduct technical feasibility assessments of new opportunities - evaluating whether emerging concepts, RFPs, or mission requirements are viable within your focus area and what approach they would require
 * Serve as a cross-functional technical contributor across Special Programs efforts outside your core focus area when program needs require it
 * Collaborate with program leads, other Special Programs engineers, and broader Archer engineering teams to align technical approaches with program timelines and constraints
 * Produce technical documentation, trade studies, and analysis packages supporting both design maturity reviews and opportunity/capture decisions
 * Represent Special Programs work in your focus area in internal reviews and, as needed, in discussions with government stakeholders


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