Senior Prototype Equipment Lead

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer is an aerospace company in San Jose, California building all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft focused on sustainable air mobility. The Production Realization Lab leads electromechanical test equipment and fixtures from concept to reality.

The role leads a high‑mix, low-volume prototype shop producing structural components, weldments, and sheet metal assemblies, mentoring fabricators and welders, and owning production planning to meet aggressive schedules while maintaining

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent).
• 8+ years in fabrication, manufacturing, or mechanical assembly in aerospace/defense/advanced manufacturing.
• Proven leadership of technicians, welders, or fabricators in high-mix, quick-turn environments.
• Hands-on fabrication expertise in sheet metal and welding (MIG/TIG).
• Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, weld symbols, GD&T callouts.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of a high-mix prototype shop for structural components.
• Build, mentor, and scale a team of fabricators and welders with hands-on guidance.
• Own job prioritization, capacity planning, and throughput for schedules across multiple requests.
• Develop and maintain shop documentation, instructions, travelers, and inspection checklists.
• Drive quality and first-article acceptance per GD&T and engineering drawings.
• Ensure safety compliance and non-negotiable safety culture.
• Lead hands-on assembly, integration, and commissioning of custom test equipment.
• Provide early-stage DFM feedback during design reviews to improve producibility.
• Coordinate with engineering for milestone planning and cross-functional tasks.
• Maintain audit-ready build records for AS9100 compliance.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

GD&T knowledge

Reading engineering drawings

Fabrication expertise

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

CNC press brake

Laser cutting

Waterjet cutting

MIG/TIG welding

ProNest

Sigmanest

SAP ERP

Job description

Archer is an aerospace company in San Jose, California building all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft focused on sustainable air mobility. The Production Realization Lab leads electromechanical test equipment and fixtures from concept to reality.

The role leads a high‑mix, low-volume prototype shop producing structural components, weldments, and sheet metal assemblies, mentoring fabricators and welders, and owning production planning to meet aggressive schedules while maintaining