Manager, Powertrain Manufacturing

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.

Responsibilities

• Lead & Scale the Team: Coach, mentor, and grow a high-performing MDE team. Own headcount planning, talent acquisition, and career development for your individual contributors.
• Own the Capex & Capacity Lifecycle: Drive the strategy, budget, and execution for all powertrain manufacturing equipment, ensuring production capacity seamlessly meets current and future demand.
• Drive Equipment Execution: Lead the Equipment Design specifications and RFQ process from concept through Factory/Site Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT), launch, and ramp.
• Partner Regionally & Globally: Cultivate strategic relationships with equipment integrators and automation suppliers in lockstep with the purchasing team.
• Influence Product Design: Collaborate closely with the Manufacturing Engineering team to feed line learnings and DFM insights back to product design, ensuring our powertrain is optimized for high-volume, high-yield manufacturing.
• Executive Visibility: Manage your cost center, secure executive approval for project financing, and deliver regular, data-driven status updates to the leadership team.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Robotics Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Leadership Experience: 2+ years of experience directly managing a technical engineering team, with a proven track record of developing talent.
• Industry Footprint: 5+ years in a highly automated, high-volume manufacturing environment (EV, Aerospace, or Semiconductor preferred).
• Financial & Operational Acumen: Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and Capex planning. Deep understanding of operational metrics like OEE, yield, line balancing, and lean layouts.
• Problem-Solving Toolbox: Strong proficiency in structured problem-solving (Lean, Six Sigma, DMAIC, 8D, or Ishikawa) and statistical process control/GD&T.
• Mindset: A high-ownership, bias-for-action mentality with the ability to communicate technical complexities clearly to non-technical executives.
• Technical Depth: You should bring deep expertise in at least one of the following core pillars, with a desire to grow into the others: Equipment Design & Spec: 2D/3D CAD (AutoCAD/NX), PLM, and setting up industrial equipment (dispense systems, torque tools, etc.). Controls & Automation: Working understanding of PLCs, robotics, motion control, and vision systems. Process Development: Factory systems architecture including MES and ERP integration.

Bonus Qualifications

• Direct experience with eMotor (inverters, rotors, stators, gearboxes) or Battery (module/pack assembly, ideally utilizing 21700 cells) manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with premium PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff) or Robotics (Fanuc, Kuka, ABB).
• Familiarity with Electrical & Safety Standards (NFPA79, NEC, UL508A, ANSI/RIA15.06, OSHA).