Staff Equipment Design Engineer

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, our internal Equipment Design team enables rapid innovation by designing, procuring, and building custom tooling and automation in-house. By keeping this capability internal, we move faster through product and process iterations while driving significant capital efficiency. As our scope has expanded from High Voltage Power Systems (HVPS) and Electric Propulsion Systems (EPS) to supporting all manufacturing teams across the company, we are hiring an Equipment Engineer. In this role, you’ll tackle ground-up equipment design under unique aerospace constraints, creating novel automation systems engineered to exceed the rigorous quality and traceability standards of the eVTOL industry. You will work cross-functionally with Aircraft Manufacturing, Powertrain, Controls, and Advanced Manufacturing teams to own cradle-to-grave equipment solutions for both current production and future programs. What You’ll Do: End-to-End Ownership: Lead the complete lifecycle of custom manufacturing equipment, tooling, and automation—from initial greenfield concepts and engineering analysis through assembly, factory bring-up, and handoff. Mechanical & Mechatronic Design: Architect complex mechanisms, kinematic systems, and fluid power equipment, executing detailed stress, deflection, and tolerance stack (GD&T) analyses. Component Integration: Select, size, and integrate off-the-shelf actuators, sensors, and hardware to build high-precision mechatronic systems with open and closed-loop controls. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with design teams on DFM/DFA feedback, document design trade-offs for stakeholders, and advise team members on robust machine architectures. Hands-On Commissioning & Floor Support: Manage procurement, oversee physical builds, troubleshoot automation on the floor, and refine processes to ensure seamless operational integration. Continuous Improvement: Develop internal design tools, standards, and w