Manager, Manufacturing Design Engineering - Electric Motor

Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise. 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’re scaling production of our High Voltage Electric Propulsion System — the heart of our eVTOL aircraft, which includes the High Voltage Battery, Electric Motor and Propeller assemblies and represents one of the most technically demanding, highly automated manufacturing systems in our factory. We’re seeking a highly motivated Manufacturing Design Engineering (MDE) Manager to lead the Electric Motor/Drive Unit manufacturing team. This role sits on the Manufacturing Design Engineering group and owns the specification, design, launch and ramp of advanced powertrain manufacturing equipment in a high-volume production environment. You’ll be hands-on, deeply technical, and accountable for solving complex manufacturing problems—often under real schedule pressure. What You’ll Do: Lead & Scale the Team: Direct a high-performing MDE team responsible for Electric Motor/Drive Unit production lines; own hiring, career development, and resource planning. Capital Equipment Ownership: Own end-to-end equipment execution from RFQ and design specs through FAT, SAT, commissioning, and ramp up, managing capex budgets and executive approvals. Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Partner closely with Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering to drive DFM feedback into early-stage designs and optimize products for automated assembly. Integrator & Supplier Management: Lead relationships with custom equipment builders and key automation suppliers in close collaboration with Global Supply Chain. Executive Communication: Present program status, capital spend forecasts, and capacity models to executive leadership, adapting quickly to evolving enterprise schedules. Production Capacity Planning: Ensure manufacturing equipment meets throughput, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) targets to satisfy present and future delivery schedules. What You Need: Education & Experience: B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Robotics Engineering (or equivalent) with 2+ years of technical management and 5+ years in high-volume, automated manufacturing (EV, Aerospace, or Semiconductor preferred). Technical Domain Expertise: Deep core expertise in at least one key drive unit subsystem—Stator, Rotor, Inverter, Gearbox, or Actuators—alongside strong knowledge of automated assembly processes. Equipment & Automation Mastery: Hands-on experience developing specifications for PLCs, industrial robotics (Fanuc, Kuka, ABB), vision systems, dispense systems, torque tools, and human/machine safety devices. Financial & Project Acumen: Proven experience in capex budgeting, vendor RFQ management, line balancing, layout design (AutoCAD/NX), and executing FAT/SAT protocols. Problem-Solving & Quality Systems: Mastery of structured root-cause methodologies (DMAIC, 8D, 5-Why) alongside practical application of GD&T, SPC, and PFMEAs. Software Competency: Proficiency using 3D CAD (Siemens NX preferred), PLM (Teamcenter), MES, and ERP platforms to manage factory designs and product lifecycle data. Leadership Mindset: Clear communicator with a high-ownership, bias-for-action attitude capable of thriving in a fast-paced hardware development environment. Bonus Qualifications: Advanced Automation Controls: Direct programming or architecture experience with PLC platforms (Siemens, Beck…