Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Tooling & Equipment

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:

The Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME) team defines and delivers the production systems that will build the next generation of aircraft. We operate at the intersection of product design, factory strategy, and capital execution, owning everything from manufacturing concepts and equipment specifications through installation, commissioning, and production ramp. We partner closely with internal engineering, operations, and world-class external suppliers to design and deploy highly automated, scalable manufacturing systems.

What You’ll Do:

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Tooling & Equipment, you will lead the development of complex manufacturing equipment and tooling solutions critical to aircraft assembly. You will define requirements, drive supplier engagement, and ensure delivery of production-ready systems from early concept through factory integration and ramp. This role requires strong technical depth, ownership of capital projects, and the ability to translate product requirements into scalable manufacturing solutions.

Capital Equipment & Production System Development

• Lead design and development of tooling, fixtures, and automated/semi-automated equipment

• Translate product and manufacturing requirements into detailed equipment specifications

• Develop station concepts, process flows, and equipment architectures

• Drive DFM and DFA inputs with engineering teams

• Define safety, quality, and throughput requirements early in design

Supplier Engagement & Execution

• Author and release RFQ packages for tooling and equipment

• Evaluate supplier proposals, capabilities, and technical approaches

• Lead technical reviews and down-selects with cross-functional stakeholders

• Partner with suppliers to co-develop manufacturable, scalable solutions

• Own supplier performance through design, build, and delivery

Manufacturing Line Implementation & Validation

• Oversee equipment design reviews, build progress, and acceptance criteria

• Develop and execute FAT and SAT protocols

• Ensure equipment meets safety, quality, and throughput targets

• Support installation, integration, and commissioning on the factory floor

• Drive issue resolution to achieve production readiness

Production Ramp & Continuous Improvement

• Drive equipment readiness including validation and capability studies

• Develop commissioning plans, startup documentation, and handoff packages

• Partner with Operations to ensure smooth transition to production

• Improve equipment performance, reliability, and cycle time

• Capture lessons learned to inform future designs and scaling strategies

What You Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related engineering field

• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience with tooling/equipment focus

• Experience specifying and delivering capital equipment through suppliers

• Strong understanding of assembly, structures, composites, or systems integration

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience in aerospace, automotive, or other high-rate production environments

• Experience working with automation suppliers or line integrators

• Knowledge of DOE, process validation, and capability analysis

• Familiarity with PLM, CAD, and manufacturing simulation tools

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.