Lead Aerospace Manufacturing Design Engineer, Structures

Archer; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 152,100 - 190,100; Full time

Job summary

Archer, an aerospace company in San Jose, CA, seeks a Staff Manufacturing Design Engineer - Structures to lead manufacturing strategy for aircraft structures from prototype through early production ramp. You will partner with Design, Quality, Supply Chain, and Certification to establish manufacturability and robust processes.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, mentoring teams, and delivering best-in-class manufacturing solutions for current and future aircraft platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent).
• 10+ years in aerospace manufacturing, with assembly and integration focus; prototype or experimental aircraft experience preferred.
• Proven track record of DFM for complex assemblies.
• Expertise in CAD, PLM, MES.
• Ability to understand MB Definition and interpret GD&T callouts.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Thrives in a dynamic environment balancing big-picture goals with hands-on builds.

Responsibilities

• 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, embedding manufacturability, compliance, and risk mitigation from concept to flight test readiness.
• Drive tooling strategies and fixture development for prototype builds, balancing high precision with low-volume, evolving programs.
• Serve as the primary SME on the shop floor, leading root-cause analysis and timely corrective actions.
• Act as a liaison to Design, Quality, and Certification to align materials, documentation, and processes with certification objectives.
• Mentor and guide manufacturing engineers and technicians, setting best practices and fostering ownership.

Skills

Aerospace

DFM

Leadership

CAD

PLM

MES

MBE

GD&T

Education

Bachelors/Masters in relevant engineering

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

SAP

Job description

Archer, an aerospace company in San Jose, CA, seeks a Staff Manufacturing Design Engineer - Structures to lead manufacturing strategy for aircraft structures from prototype through early production ramp. You will partner with Design, Quality, Supply Chain, and Certification to establish manufacturability and robust processes.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, mentoring teams, and delivering best-in-class manufacturing solutions for current and future aircraft platforms.