Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Tooling & Equipment

Archer•Santa Clara, CA

23h

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. 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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