Manufacturing Systems Solution Architect

Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise.

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.

Overview

We are seeking a Principal Solution Architect – Manufacturing to lead the end-to-end architecture, design, and delivery of integrated manufacturing technology solutions across SAP and non-SAP platforms. This role will serve as the technical thought leader for Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) — encompassing MES, WM, QM, SCADA, and Smart Factory systems — driving standardization, scalability, and digital innovation in support of the company’s industrial and production strategy.

The role will partner closely with Enterprise Architecture, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality functions to ensure that technology solutions align with business objectives and enable future-state capabilities across our manufacturing footprint.

Key Responsibilities

Architectural Leadership

• Define and drive the Manufacturing Systems Architecture Vision covering SAP S/4HANA (PP, PP-PI, QM, PM, WM, EWM), MES (SAP DM, PEO, or Non-SAP MES), PLM, and SCADA integration layers.

• Develop and own the Manufacturing Architecture Roadmap, aligning system evolution with enterprise goals and Industry 4.0 strategy.

• Provide architectural direction across MES, SAP Digital Manufacturing (DM), and Plant Connectivity (PCo)/Sepasoft integrations using OPC UA, MQTT, and API-based frameworks.

• Champion Smart Factory initiatives by integrating IoT, AI/ML, and data-driven analytics into manufacturing and quality processes.

Solution Design & Delivery

• Lead the design and delivery of end-to-end manufacturing solutions that bridge SAP and non-SAP systems.

• Oversee system design reviews, technical feasibility, and integration architecture for Manufacturing, Quality, and Warehouse systems.

• Collaborate with System Engineers and Functional Analysts to deliver scalable, maintainable, and high-performing solutions.

• Define design patterns, data flow standards, and integration best practices for real-time and asynchronous communications between MES, SAP, and SCADA.

• Govern the use of BTP (Business Technology Platform) and Mendix for extensions and lightweight shop-floor applications.

Governance & Process Excellence

• Establish and chair the Manufacturing Architecture Review Board, ensuring solution integrity and alignment with enterprise standards.

• Define architecture principles, review frameworks, and conduct design assurance for all manufacturing-related projects.

• Drive alignment between projects, production support, and business transformation initiatives, ensuring architectural consistency.

• Partner with the Production Support Lead to ensure post go-live sustainability, performance, and compliance.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies — including predictive maintenance, machine learning, and digital twin capabilities.

• Lead proof-of-concepts (POCs) for new manufacturing tools, integrations, and frameworks.

• Drive adoption of Agile delivery practices and promote continuous improvement in design, testing, and deployment processes.

• Enable interoperability between MES and PLM for improved Engineering-to-Manufacturing handoffs.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance leadership to translate operational goals into system capabilities.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders, providing guidance on feasibility, impact, and solution options.

• Manage relationships with implementation partners, vendors, and system integrators, ensuring adherence to design guardrails.

• Communicate technical roadmaps and progress updates clearly to executive stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Industrial Engineering, or related field; Master’s preferred.

• 15+ years of experience designing and implementing manufacturing and shop-floor systems, including SAP S/4HANA PP, QM, PM, WM/EWM, and MES integrations.

• Deep understanding of manufacturing operations, plant maintenance, quality processes, and logistics integration.

• Hands-on experience with SAP Digital Manufacturing (DM), SAP PEO, or equivalent MES platforms (e.g., Sepasoft, Ignition, Dassault DELMIA).

• Strong knowledge of SCADA, PLC communication standards, and data acquisition protocols (OPC UA, MQTT, REST APIs).

• Familiarity with SAP BTP, Mendix, or low-code extensions for shop-floor enablement.

• Working understanding of SAP security, change management, and GxP/quality compliance frameworks.

• Experience delivering solutions in Agile or DevOps environments

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, capable of influencing technical and business decision-making.

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 $190,000 - $245,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

Information collected and processed as part of any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Archer's Candidate Privacy Policy.

Archer is unable to provide work visa sponsorship for this position at the present time.

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.