Director, Strategic Digital Technology

About this role

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.

About The Role

The Digital Technology Office builds and runs the enterprise systems, data, AI, infrastructure, and security capabilities that Archer depends on as it grows from development into production and commercial operations. We are looking for a Director, Strategic Digital Technology to serve as a trusted strategic partner and operating leader for the Chief Digital Officer.

In this role, you will turn the Chief Digital Officer's priorities into plans, decisions, and measurable results across the Digital Technology Office and its partner teams. You will run the operating rhythm of the organization, lead cross-functional initiatives that do not belong to a single team, and make sure the Chief Digital Officer and the leadership team have what they need to decide well and decide on time.

This is a high-trust, high-ownership position with daily access to senior leaders. It calls for sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to lead through influence as well as authority.

What You'll Do

Strategy and Planning

• Partner with the Chief Digital Officer to turn digital strategy into a multi-year roadmap, an annual operating plan, and quarterly objectives and key results (OKRs), each with a named owner, milestones, and success measures.

• Lead the annual and quarterly planning cycles, including budget, headcount, and investment prioritization, in close coordination with Finance and People.

• Frame decisions for the Chief Digital Officer with clear options, trade-offs, and recommendations backed by data.

Operating Rhythm and Governance

• Own the cadence of leadership meetings, business reviews, steering forums, and decision logs for the Digital Technology Office, and make sure decisions lead to follow-through.

• Build scorecards and executive dashboards that cover delivery, spend, risk, and organizational health, and turn them into insights and actions.

• Set up lightweight governance that keeps speed high while meeting the demands of a regulated aerospace company.

Cross-Functional Initiatives

• Lead strategic initiatives that span engineering, manufacturing, operations, finance, legal, security, and people teams. Clear blockers, keep dependencies visible, and hold work to its commitments.

• Work with the Digital Technology program management team so that portfolio priorities match enterprise priorities.

• Support major platform, vendor, and integration decisions as they arise.

AI and Digital Enablement

• Help lead company-wide adoption of AI tools and workflows, including training, change management, and measurement of business impact.

• Track emerging technologies, vendors, and market trends, and recommend where Archer should lead.

Executive and Board Communication

• Prepare briefings, executive updates, and board-level materials for the Chief Digital Officer, and represent the Chief Digital Officer in meetings when needed.

• Plan and run leadership offsites, all-hands meetings, and organization-wide communications for the Digital Technology Office.

• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and good judgment.

People and Culture

• Partner with People on workforce planning, hiring priorities, succession, and leadership development.

• Coach leaders, build team capability, and help create a culture of accountability, curiosity, and candor.

Success In the First 12 Months

• A documented operating rhythm for the Digital Technology Office that every member of the leadership team uses.

• One prioritized digital roadmap with OKRs tied to company goals, reviewed every quarter.

• Executive scorecards covering delivery, spend, and risk, with a clear owner for each measure.

• Cross-functional initiatives that previously had no single owner now have one and are moving on schedule.

• A repeatable approach to AI enablement, with adoption and impact metrics reported to leadership.

What You'll Need

• 12+ years of progressive experience in strategy, technology operations, program or portfolio management, digital transformation, or management consulting.

• 5+ years leading teams, portfolios, or great cross-functional efforts at the manager level or above.

• A record of turning executive strategy into plans, OKRs, and measurable results in a complex organization.

• Experience running executive operating rhythms, such as planning cycles, business reviews, and governance forums.

• Strong financial skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and investment prioritization.

• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication, with the ability to explain complex topics clearly to executives and boards.

• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead without direct authority.

• Working knowledge of enterprise technology, such as ERP, PLM, MES, data platforms, cloud infrastructure, or AI, enough to challenge assumptions and discuss trade-offs with technical leaders.

• Experience in a regulated, safety-critical, or high-reliability environment, such as aerospace, defense, financial services, healthcare, or advanced manufacturing.

• A bachelor's degree in business, engineering, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• The ability to work on-site at our San Jose headquarters.

Bonus…