Manager, Manufacturing Test Engineering

Archer•Santa Clara, CA

4d•$152,100 - $190,100•Onsite

About The Position

This role sits within Manufacturing Engineering and leads the team responsible for aircraft-level functional and end-of-line testing as each vehicle is manufactured. As a Manager, you will build, mentor, and direct a high-performing engineering team to ensure every aircraft meets strict performance, integration, and system-level standards before delivery or progression into flight testing. You will drive the team's strategy in validating that each individual build behaves as intended by verifying systems, software, electrical behavior, and overall functional readiness. Additionally, you will establish scalable test processes, optimize shop-floor execution, and partner closely with Design, Quality, and Operations to seamlessly guide aircraft programs from prototype to full-rate production.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Software, or Manufacturing) with 8+ years testing complex electromechanical hardware.
3+ years directly managing engineering teams, including team building, performance management, and resource allocation.
Experience developing and maintaining manufacturing and test documentation including work instructions, BOPs, and process standards
Background in designing, procuring, and qualifying test equipment, fixtures, and GSE, including capital expenditure justification.
Hands-on experience with test automation (Python, LabVIEW, TestStand), aircraft communication protocols (CAN, Ethernet, ARINC 429), and reading complex schematics.
Experience supporting conformity and inspection activities for test operations

Nice To Haves

Experience scaling eVTOL, UAV, or advanced air mobility test operations through a high-rate production ramp.
Direct experience with FAA conformity & certification processes, and AS9100 quality standards.

Responsibilities

Build and scale the organization: Lead two dedicated teams across Test Operations & Execution and Test Development & Design to support daily production and next-generation automation.
Own the functional test lifecycle: Drive end-to-end testing across avionics, low-voltage, and high-voltage systems, managing everything from ATP authoring and floor execution to airworthiness compliance records.
Partner for testability: Collaborate with Design Engineering early in the development cycle to incorporate Design for Testability (DFT) and co-validate system test plans.
Drive strategy and scaling: Establish the manufacturing test roadmap from low-rate initial production to full-rate production, optimizing test capacity, coverage, and cycle times to match build rates.
Deliver test infrastructure and automation: Lead the design, capital planning, and qualification of test stands, fixtures, GSE, and automated test equipment to maximize throughput and repeatability.
Champion the automation roadmap: drive the transition from manual test execution toward automated test equipment, automated data collection, and test analytics that reduce test cycle time and increase production throughput
Cultivate team excellence: Hire, mentor, and develop test engineers and technicians, promoting a strong culture of rigor, safety, continuous improvement, and cross-functional alignment.