Staff Manufacturing Test Engineer
Archer is seeking a Staff Manufacturing Test Engineer to join our Manufacturing Engineering team in Santa Clara, California. This role is pivotal in ensuring that each of our all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft meets the required performance, integration, and system-level standards before delivery or progression into flight testing. The successful candidate will focus on validating that each individual build behaves as intended, verifying systems, software, electrical behavior, and overall functional readiness, while supporting the transition from prototype to production.
Key responsibilities include owning the end-to-end functional test strategy for aircraft systems across manufacturing, from early builds through certified production. The engineer will drive cross-functional alignment between manufacturing, design engineering, flight test, and certification teams to define test requirements and coverage. Additionally, the role involves architecting and scaling automated manufacturing test solutions to improve quality, repeatability, and throughput, leading execution of functional testing in lab environments and on aircraft, and defining how functional tests integrate with Archer’s manufacturing engineering systems, data infrastructure, and production workflows. Identifying gaps, risks, and inefficiencies in test coverage and proactively driving solutions at the system level are also essential aspects of the role.
The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field, along with 7+ years of experience in aircraft systems or subsystem test engineering, including ownership of test scope and strategy. Experience testing aircraft systems developed under 14 CFR Part 23/25/27/29 or equivalent regulatory frameworks is required. A strong background in electrical and software-driven testing, experience designing or influencing data acquisition and test architectures, and scripting fluency (Python preferred) for automation, analysis, and test enablement are also necessary. The ability to work effectively within existing manufacturing and test data ecosystems, read electrical schematics, and interpret results from wiring, integration, and functional tests is essential. Proven ability to communicate complex technical topics and influence across disciplines is also required.
At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possess the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the company’s business strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay between $151,680 and $189,600. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.