Staff Manufacturing Design Engineer - Structures

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Archer is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), aviation-related physical artificial intelligence (“AI”) solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors. 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 are scaling production of our cutting-edge eVTOL aircraft. As a member of the Manufacturing Design Engineering (MDE) team, you will help bridge aircraft design and production. In this role, you will drive the manufacturing strategy for aircraft structures and serve as a technical leader responsible for defining and scaling Archer's aircraft design and production, supporting aircraft builds from prototype through early production ramp. You will work cross-functionally with Design, Quality, Supply Chain, and Certification teams to establish best-in-class manufacturing solutions for both current and future aircraft platforms. What You’ll Do: Provide overarching leadership and technical direction for structural assembly and integration processes, including prototype and production assembly sequencing. Own the end-to-end lifecycle of structural component builds, collaborating with design, quality, and certification teams to embed manufacturability, compliance, and risk mitigation from concept to flight test readiness. Drive tooling strategies and fixture development for prototype builds, balancing the need for high precision with practical solutions suited to low-volume, rapidly evolving programs. Serve as the primary subject matter expert on the shop floor, leading root-cause analysis and implementing timely corrective actions to maintain schedule, quality, and structural integrity. Act as a key liaison to adjacent business units (Design, Quality, Testing,) ensuring materials, documentation, and processes align with certification objectives. Mentor and guide manufacturing engineers and technicians at all levels, setting best practices, championing innovative problem-solving, and fostering a hands-on culture of ownership and accountability. What You Need: Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent experience). 10+ years in aerospace manufacturing, with a focus on assembly and integration; prototype or experimental aircraft experience strongly preferred. Proven track record of driving DFM principles for complex assemblies. Expertise in advanced manufacturing tools (CAD, PLM, MES) Ability to understand…