Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Harnessing & Wiring

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.

About The Role:

As part of Archer’s mission, we’re scaling production of our cutting-edge eVTOL aircraft, Midnight 1.0, while planning for the next-generation Midnight 1.1. On the MDE team, you will develop build plans, assembly tooling and form boards, work instructions, and provide design feedback for avionics harnesses across the aircraft. You will also troubleshoot and resolve discrepant harnesses or routing challenges, partnering closely with Quality and Design authorities.

What You’ll Do:

• Design Production Systems: Develop the end-to-end production system for wire harness installation across the aircraft assembly line, including integration with supplier-fabricated structural assemblies.

• Partner with Suppliers: Collaborate with external suppliers to identify opportunities for pre-installing harness standoffs, supports, and select harnesses during structural assembly fabrication.

• Optimize Installation Processes: Define and document processes, guidelines, and standards that make wire harness installation faster, safer, and more repeatable. Establish preferred components, tooling, and installation methods.

• Prevent Damage and Enable Repair: Anticipate potential harness damage during production and develop mitigation strategies, repair procedures, and rework standards to protect system integrity and safety.

• Scale for Rate: Plan for increasing production rates by evaluating how tools, processes, and production systems must evolve to support higher volumes.

• Support Certification: Author and maintain process documentation, standards, and evidence required to support FAA certification and ongoing regulatory compliance.

• Drive Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement improvements to the EWIS production system that improve quality, reduce cost, and increase efficiency.

What You Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience

• 6+ years of experience in aerospace wire harness and EWIS design, installation, and manufacturing

• Experience supporting FAA-certified aircraft programs in a production or certification environment

• Strong background in production system design and process optimization for aircraft wire harness installation

• Experience integrating electrical systems into composite structures, including thermoset carbon fiber prepreg materials

• Proven experience working with external suppliers and contract manufacturers across low-rate initial production and ramp to higher-rate builds

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate failure modes and implement effective, production-ready solutions

• Clear, effective communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with internal teams, suppliers, and certification authorities

• Detail-oriented mindset with a focus on process definition, documentation, and regulatory compliance

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience supporting multiple phases of aircraft development, including prototype, certification, and production

• Familiarity with industry standards related to EWIS, wire harness installation, and aerospace manufacturing

• Experience with expanded copper foil (ECF) layers and surfacing films on OML composite structures

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional efforts and drive results in fast-paced, high-ambiguity

Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications.

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 $126,700 - $158,400. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Archer is committed to provide a safe workplace and a safe aircraft. This is a safety sensitive designated role. Employment in safety sensitive positions is contingent on successful passage of a background check and is subject to pre-employment and random drug screening.

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.

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.