Sr. Certification Operations Manager

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Archer is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), aviation-related physical artificial intelligence (“AI”) solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors. Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members. The Certification Operations Manager is a strategic and operational partner to the Head of Product Certification — translating priorities into action, administering the certification program’s operational backbone, and leading a small team responsible for program metrics, FAA/foreign-agency correspondence, and project records. This is not a technical or certification-authority role; it exists to build the systems and alignment that let technical leaders and teams perform at their highest level. What you’ll do: Serve as a strategic and operational extension of the Head of Product Certification, translating priorities into clear ownership, milestones, and measurable outcomes Establish and manage operating rhythms — leadership meetings, milestone reviews, action tracking — that keep the organization aligned and accountable Maintain visibility into top organizational priorities, risks, and decisions, elevating them at the right time Manage a small team (~2 direct reports) responsible for certification program administration Own program metrics and dashboards reflecting real-time certification status — certification basis progress, means-of-compliance status, and milestones per project Manage the official communication record between Archer and the FAA and applicable foreign certification authorities Maintain organized, audit-ready certification project file records and produce regular program-progress reporting Identify and remove organizational barriers — process, resource, or communication gaps — that slow execution, taking ownership of cross-functional issues without a clear owner Drive alignment between Product Certification and partners across Engineering, Flight Test, Safety, Program Management, and other functions Prepare executive-level briefings for the Head of Product Certification and ensure commitments from key meetings are tracked to completion What you need: 10+ years of progressive leadership, operations, or program management experience in complex, fast-moving organizations Demonstrated success as a Chief of Staff, senior operations leader, or program/organizational leader driving execution across multiple teams Experience managing a team and developing direct reports Experience building performance management systems, dashboards, and operating rhythms that drive measurable execution Strong track record resolving cross-functional barriers and influencing without direct authority Exceptional ability to organize complex work, synthesize information, and operate with sound judgment amid ambiguity Excellent written, verbal, and executive-presentation skills Willingness to travel between Archer locations as needed Bonus Qualifications: Experience with regulatory correspondence, records administration, or compliance documentation (e.g., FAA, EASA) Advanced degree in leadership, organizational development, business administration, or a related field 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 $165,900 - $207,400. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Information collected and processed as part of any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Archer’s Candidate Privacy Policy. Certain positions may be eligible for visa sponsorship. Archer is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Archer Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters with whom it does not have a prior written agreement. Archer reserves the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes that it receives and bears no responsibility for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes. If you are a recruiting agency or individual recruiter wishing to do business with Archer, please reach out to [email protected]. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.