Manager, Equipment Build

Archer•San Jose, CA

2h•$138,200 - $172,800•Onsite

About The Position

Manager, Equipment Build at Archer, an aerospace company in San Jose, California, focused on building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The company aims to advance sustainable air mobility with a quiet, four-passenger electric aircraft. Archer values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Production Realization Lab at Archer builds the electromechanical infrastructure for flight, including dynamometers, test stands, and custom test equipment. The Equipment Build Manager will lead the prototype fabrication shop and test equipment build team, acting as a key technical partner to engineering and ensuring the speed, precision, and reliability of fabrication output and custom test equipment builds. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with deep fabrication expertise, strong DFM instincts, and experience guiding technicians through complex mechanical builds in a fast-paced development environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent practical experience).
8+ years in a fabrication, manufacturing, or mechanical assembly environment within aerospace, defense, automotive, or advanced manufacturing.
Proven track record of managing technicians, welders, or fabricators through complex mechanical builds in high-mix, quick-turn environments.
Strong hands-on background in sheet metal fabrication (CNC press brake, laser/waterjet cutting) and structural welding (MIG/TIG).
Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, weld symbols, GD&T callouts, and mechanical/electrical assembly documentation.
Strong organizational skills to track parallel workstreams, manage material readiness, and proactively escalate schedule risks.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with plumbing, wiring harness installation, and sensor integration on test fixtures.
Background working within AS9100 or FAA-regulated manufacturing environments.
Experience programming CNC press brakes (Trumpf, AMADA, Bystronic) or using nesting software (ProNest, Sigmanest).
Familiarity with SAP or similar ERP/MRP systems for material and work order tracking.
Experience supporting eVTOL, UAV, or advanced air mobility programs.

Responsibilities

Lead Shop Operations: Oversee day-to-day operations of a high-mix, low-rate prototype shop producing structural components, weldments, and complex sheet metal assemblies for rapid development aircraft programs.
Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of fabricators and welders, providing hands-on technical guidance and performance coaching.
Production Planning: Own job prioritization, capacity planning, and throughput to meet aggressive program schedules across multiple concurrent engineering requests.
Standardize Workflows: Develop and maintain critical shop documentation, including work instructions, setup sheets, traveler documents, and inspection checklists.
Quality & GD&T: Drive quality and first-article acceptance of fabricated parts through in-process inspection and strict adherence to engineering drawings and GD&T requirements.
Culture of Safety: Ensure total shop safety compliance, leading a culture where safety and regulatory standards are completely non-negotiable.
Manage Build Assembly: Lead a team of technicians executing the hands-on assembly, integration, and commissioning of custom mechanical test equipment (e.g., dynamometers, propulsion stands, structural rigs).
Electromechanical Integration: Oversee the integration of complex mechanical assemblies, plumbing, wiring harnesses, sensors, and instrumentation into commission-ready test fixtures.
Project Tracking: Monitor build status, material readiness, and open actions, communicating proactively with engineering and program teams to support realistic milestone planning.
Cross-Functional DFM: Serve as the primary manufacturing voice in design reviews, providing early-stage DFM feedback on geometry, materials, and weld joints to improve producibility and reduce lead times.
Collaborative Troubleshooting: Partner with propulsion, structures, and systems engineering teams to troubleshoot assembly issues and ensure built equipment meets functional and certification requirements.
Compliance & Documentation: Advise on make-versus-buy decisions based on shop capability, and maintain accurate, audit-ready build records in support of AS9100 compliance.