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:
At Archer, we’re scaling production of our High Voltage Electric Propulsion System — the heart of our eVTOL aircraft, which includes the High Voltage Battery, Electric Motor and Propeller assemblies and represents one of the most technically demanding, highly automated manufacturing systems in our factory.
We’re seeking a highly motivated Manufacturing Design Engineering (MDE) Manager to lead the Electric Motor/Drive Unit manufacturing team. This role sits on the Manufacturing Design Engineering group and owns the specification, design, launch and ramp of advanced powertrain manufacturing equipment in a high-volume production environment.
You’ll be hands-on, deeply technical, and accountable for solving complex manufacturing problems—often under real schedule pressure.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead & Scale the Team: Direct a high-performing MDE team responsible for Electric Motor/Drive Unit production lines; own hiring, career development, and resource planning.
- Capital Equipment Ownership: Own end-to-end equipment execution from RFQ and design specs through FAT, SAT, commissioning, and ramp up, managing capex budgets and executive approvals.
- Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Partner closely with Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering to drive DFM feedback into early-stage designs and optimize products for automated assembly.
- Integrator & Supplier Management: Lead relationships with custom equipment builders and key automation suppliers in close collaboration with Global Supply Chain.
- Executive Communication: Present program status, capital spend forecasts, and capacity models to executive leadership, adapting quickly to evolving enterprise schedules.
- Production Capacity Planning: Ensure manufacturing equipment meets throughput, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) targets to satisfy present and future delivery schedules.
What You Need:
- Education & Experience: B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Robotics Engineering (or equivalent) with 2+ years of technical management and 5+ years in high-volume, automated manufacturing (EV, Aerospace, or Semiconductor preferred).
- Technical Domain Expertise: Deep core expertise in at least one key drive unit subsystem—Stator, Rotor, Inverter, Gearbox, or Actuators—alongside strong knowledge of automated assembly processes.
- Equipment & Automation Mastery: Hands-on experience developing specifications for PLCs, industrial robotics (Fanuc, Kuka, ABB), vision systems, dispense systems, torque tools, and human/machine safety devices.
- Financial & Project Acumen: Proven experience in capex budgeting, vendor RFQ management, line balancing, layout design (AutoCAD/NX), and executing FAT/SAT protocols.
- Problem-Solving & Quality Systems: Mastery of structured root-cause methodologies (DMAIC, 8D, 5-Why) alongside practical application of GD&T, SPC, and PFMEAs.
- Software Competency: Proficiency using 3D CAD (Siemens NX preferred), PLM (Teamcenter), MES, and ERP platforms to manage factory designs and product lifecycle data.
- Leadership Mindset: Clear communicator with a high-ownership, bias-for-action attitude capable of thriving in a fast-paced hardware development environment.
Bonus Qualifications:
- Advanced Automation Controls: Direct programming or architecture experience with PLC platforms (Siemens, Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley) and complex MES integrations.
- Regulatory & Safety Standards: Strong working knowledge of electrical and industrial safety codes, including NFPA 79, NEC, UL508A, ANSI/RIA 15.06, and OSHA regulations.
- Advanced DFM/DFA: Experience taking complex electromagnetic assemblies from initial NPI prototype builds through full-scale automated line qualification.
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 $152,100 - $190,100. 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 people@archer.com. 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 People@archer.com. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.