Staff Manufacturing Engineer, Archer

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials Engineering or equivalent experience
• 5+ years hands-on experience developing and running industrial paint/coating processes in aerospace or automotive manufacturing (or combination). Experience with both manual and automated application systems required
• Demonstrated experience specifying and commissioning paint booths, pretreatment lines, ovens, robotics and paint application equipment, and managing supplier FAT/SAT
• Experience with process control tools (SPC, FMEA, control plans), root-cause problem solving, and NPI-to-production ramp methodologies
• Working knowledge of coating chemistries, VOC and environmental controls, and air filtration/airflow design for paint booths
• Proficiency using 2D & 3D CAD to generate manufacturing layouts, assembly models, and detailed part drawings for fabrication
• Strong project management, cross-functional communication, and supplier management skills. Ability to write technical specs and run technical acceptance tests
• Able to maintain organization and focus in a highly dynamic environment
• Prefer ability to travel 10% of the time, both domestically and internationally
• Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications

Desirable

• At Archer we’re building in-house paint and finish capabilities for our high-volume eVTOL program that blends aerospace quality and certification rigor with automotive-level automation and throughput
• The Staff Manufacturing Engineer - Paint role will lead process development, equipment selection, supplier integration, and production ramp for surface preparation, primer, basecoat, clearcoat, masking/demasking, curing/oven systems, and final inspection/repair workflows
• This role coordinates Industrial Design, Design Engineering, Materials & Processes, and external coating/booth equipment suppliers to move paint systems from NPI into robust production
• Lead end-to-end development of paint and coating processes (pretreatment, primer, base, clear, specialty coatings) suited to composite and metallic aircraft structures
• Define paint line concepts (booths, pretreatment, ovens/cure, conveyors/handling, robotics/automation, filtration and airflow topology) and produce equipment procurement specs
• Partner with Industrial Design and Design Engineering to translate aesthetic and tolerancing requirements into processable paint solutions
• Work with the Materials & Processes Team to qualify coatings, surface prep requirements, chemistries, corrosion protection, and ensure compatibility with bonding/assembly processes
• Manage supplier selection, technical integration, FAT/SAT, installation oversight, and handover to production
• Develop control plans, work instructions, process parameters (temperature, humidity, air balance, film thickness, bake cycles), SPC charts, and poka-yoke for critical steps
• Design and deploy automation where it increases throughput and consistency (robotic application, automated masking/demasking, part tracking). Balance capital vs. part-rate tradeoffs
• Lead NPI-to-production qualification: pilot runs, capability studies, first-article acceptance, lessons-learned, and ramp risk management
• Ensure environmental, health & safety, and permitting compliance (VOC control, filtration/waste handling, hazardous materials management) and work with EH&S and local permitting teams
• Troubleshoot quality escapes, run RCAs and implement corrective/preventive actions; support warranty/field touch-up processes
• Develop robust fixturing and material handling solutions