Staff Equipment Design Engineer

We are seeking a Staff Equipment Design Engineer to focus on the end-to-end design of specialized hardware for testing aircraft structural integrity and propulsion components. This isn’t a “follow the manual” role. You’ll be designing mechanical test equipment from a blank sheet of paper to functional hardware, partnering closely with controls and electrical teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

What You’ll Do:

• End-to-End Ownership: Lead the development of aircraft subsystem test equipment from initial concept to customer acceptance
• Systems Integration & Collaboration: Partner cross-functionally with Electrical and Controls Engineering to define equipment architecture and design
• Technical Rigor & Analysis: Execute high-level engineering analyses, including DFMEA and worst-case tolerance stacks, to ensure robust mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic designs that meet safety and reliability standards
• Project Leadership & Strategy: Manage project scope, budgets, and aggressive timelines, serving as the primary technical point of contact for stakeholders while translating high-level functional requirements into actionable technical specifications
• Design Governance: Spearhead formal design reviews to ensure equipment exceeds performance expectations, and oversee the creation of comprehensive documentation packages, including training manuals and installation guides
• Technical Oversight & Commissioning: Provide expert mechanical support during equipment build and bring-up cycles, directing assembly technicians and troubleshooting complex hardware issues through to final site acceptance testing (SAT)

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Aerospace Engineering (Master’s preferred) or equivalent
• Experience: 7+ years of progressive experience in specialized test equipment or complex machine design
• Technical: Expert-level proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks, CATIA, or NX) and GD&T, with a proven track record of managing large, complex assemblies and generating high-fidelity manufacturing documentation
• Advanced Engineering Analysis: Demonstrated ability to apply first-principles engineering, including FEA, CFD, and statistical tolerance analysis, to solve sophisticated machine design and structural challenges
• Full Lifecycle Commissioning: Extensive experience leading the bring-up, debugging, and continuous improvement of automated equipment, including the integration of data acquisition (DAQ) systems and sensors
• Strategic Communication: Exceptional ability to distill complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for executive presentations, cross-functional design reviews, and comprehensive technical reports
• Operational Agility: A self-starting mindset capable of maintaining rigorous organization and project momentum within a fast-paced, highly dynamic aerospace development environment
• Travel: Flexibility to travel up to 10% domestically and internationally to support vendor site visits, equipment installations, and final acceptance testing

Bonus Qualifications:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Direct experience in the development of electric powertrain or component-level test equipment
• Advanced PLM Ecosystems: Deep proficiency in NX CAD within a Teamcenter environment
• Full-Scale Project Execution: Proven success managing the complete lifecycle of custom automation or test cells, from initial white-sheet concepting through to final site acceptance and factory integration
• Hands-on Technical Depth: Practical “wrench-heavy” experience in the physical assembly of complex mechanical and electrical systems, allowing for more intuitive and manufacturable design decisions (DFM/DFA)
• Modern Tool-stack: Advanced proficiency in collaborative project management and documentation tools such as Jira, Slack, and Google Workspace to drive team efficiency, Acceptance Testing, Acquisition Integration, Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace and Defense, Analysis Skills, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Atlassian JIRA, Aviation Industry, Budgeting, Business Growth, Business Strategy, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), CATIA CAD, Commissioning, Continuous Improvement, Control Engineering, Cross-Functional, Debugging Skills, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), Diversity, Documentation, Ecosystems, Electric Motor, Electrical Components, Electrical Engineering, Electricity, Electromechanics, Employee Retention, Finite Element Analysis, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, Hardware Design, Hardware Quality Assurance, Hydraulic Engineering, Installation Guide, Leadership, Manufacturing, Mechanical Assembly, Mechanical Testing, Performance Analysis, Powertrain, Product Lifecycle Management, Project Execution, Project Management Software, Project/Program Management, Propulsion, Recruiting/Staffing Agency, Safety Standards, Safety/Work Safety, Slack, SolidWorks, Statistics, System Integration (SI), System Test, Team Player, Teamcenter, Technical/Engineering Design, Test Automation, Test Equipment, Test Equipment Design, Test Plan/Schedule, Testing, Tolerance Analysis, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Willing to Travel

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 $172,800 - $216,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Archer is committed to provide a safe workplace and a safe aircraft. This is a safety sensitive designated role. Employment in safety sensitive positions is contingent on successful passage of a background check and is subject to pre-employment and random drug screening.

Archer is an aerospace and defense company headquartered in San Jose, California, building the aircraft and technology that will define the next era of flight. The company works across air taxis, UAS, AI and powertrain development - building real-world systems that combine software intelligence with physical hardware. That includes Midnight, Archer’s all-electric air taxi; Halo, an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft built for both commercial and defense use; and ZEE, Archer’s AI foundation model built specifically for aviation. We’re seeking exceptional engineers, operators and builders to join us on our mission to build the future of aerospace and defense.

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 Team

At Archer’s Production Realization Lab, we build the electromechanical infrastructure that makes flight possible. From megawatt-scale dynamometers, complex electrical test stands to bespoke mechanical test equipment from concept to reality., Archer Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters with whom it does not have a prior written agreement. Archer reserves the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes that it receives and bears no responsibility for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes. If you are a recruiting agency or individual recruiter wishing to do business with Archer, please reach out to People@archer.com. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.