Staff Manufacturing Engineer - Airframe & Composites Lead

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer in San Jose leads the development of all-electric, four-passenger airframes for next-generation sustainable urban mobility. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will own end-to-end airframe builds, drive manufacturability and compliance, and mentor a growing team of engineers and technicians.

You will collaborate across design, quality, and certification to embed cost-effective, high-precision processes, and act as the on-floor SME to resolve issues and keep programs on schedule while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent).
• 8+ years in aerospace manufacturing, with airframe assembly and composite structures experience.
• Proven track record driving DFM principles for complex composite parts (layup, bonding, cure).
• Expertise in CAD, PLM, and MES tools.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional coordination.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, high-iteration environment balancing big-picture goals with hands-on solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide overarching leadership and technical direction for airframe manufacturing processes, including composite layup, bonding, trimming, metallic integration, and assembly sequencing.
• Own the end-to-end lifecycle of airframe 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 with supply chain and regulatory bodies (FAA), 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.

Skills

Leadership

Airframe manufacturing

Composite structures

DFM principles

Cross-functional leadership

Mentoring

Regulatory liaison

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

CAD

PLM

MES

NX

Teamcenter

SAP

Job description

Archer in San Jose leads the development of all-electric, four-passenger airframes for next-generation sustainable urban mobility. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will own end-to-end airframe builds, drive manufacturability and compliance, and mentor a growing team of engineers and technicians.

You will collaborate across design, quality, and certification to embed cost-effective, high-precision processes, and act as the on-floor SME to resolve issues and keep programs on schedule while