Lead Powertrain Manufacturing Engineer

Archer•San Jose, CA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

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. We are scaling production of our cutting-edge Electric Propulsion System (EPS) — the heart of our eVTOL aircraft. EPS comprises the Electric Motor, Inverter and Propeller assemblies and represents one of the most technically demanding, highly automated manufacturing systems in our factory. We’re looking for a Lead Powertrain Manufacturing Engineer to bridge the gap between design and high-volume production. We are specifically seeking an expert in Battery/HVPS (High Voltage Power Supply) assemblies, though we are also eager to speak with leaders experienced in Electric Drive Units (EDU) or EPS systems. If you have a track record of scaling capacity through strategic CapEx and continuous improvement, we want you to help us build world-class hardware from the ground up.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent)
7+ years of experience in EV or Aerospace manufacturing, with deep technical knowledge of Battery/HVPS assembly or Electric Drive Units (EDU) including stator, rotor, or gearbox production
Proven track record of managing large-scale projects ($10M+), driving the entire lifecycle from equipment specification and commissioning to full-scale production handover.
Experience leading and developing multi-level engineering teams (Associate to Senior), with the ability to foster technical growth in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
Ability to work "at risk," designing and de-risking complex production lines while product designs are still being finalized in a concurrent engineering cycle
Proficiency in NX/AutoCAD and PLM/MES systems, with hands-on experience in industrial automation (robotics, PLCs, gantries)
Strong foundation in GD&T, SPC, and structured problem-solving (DMAIC, 8D, or 5 Whys) to optimize OEE and develop predictive maintenance programs
A "Tesla-speed" approach to manufacturing—thriving in high-pressure environments where you must translate complex technical challenges into clear, actionable results

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with Dyno testing, high-voltage battery safety validation, or advanced EOL diagnostic systems
Expertise in programming or architecting high-speed automated assembly lines involving multi-axis robotics and vision systems
Familiarity with aircraft conformity, configuration management, or IATF 16949/AS9100 quality frameworks
Expert-level proficiency in NX for factory layout and experience using simulation tools to model line throughput and bottlenecks

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary engineering squad, providing technical mentorship to a team ranging from Associate to Senior Engineers
Own the full lifecycle of major CapEx projects, from initial factory layout and equipment sourcing to final commissioning and handover
Serve as the Subject Matter Expert for Battery/HVPS assembly or Electric Drive Units (EDU), overseeing complex processes such as stator manufacturing, gearbox assembly, and End-of-Line (EOL) testing
Lead the transition from concept to high-volume manufacturing, maintaining the agility to design production lines "at risk" while product specifications are still being finalized
Thrive in a high-pressure, high-cadence environment where you’ll solve complex continuous improvement challenges to support aggressive production targets
Manage vendor relationships and internal stakeholders to ensure capacity increases stay on track, on budget, and ahead of the technology curve.