Sr. Product Quality Engineer - Powertrain

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Archer is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), aviation-related physical artificial intelligence (“AI”) solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors.

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:

We are seeking a high-ownership Sr. Product Quality Engineer – Powertrain to join our Quality Engineering team at our facility in San Jose, CA. In this role, you will be a key quality engineering contributor responsible for driving manufacturing quality and advanced process quality planning across our battery, electric motor, and powertrain assembly lines.

You will work hands-on with manufacturing engineers, technicians, and design engineering teams to review 2D drawings, perform complex dimensional inspections, execute APQP tools (PFMEAs, Control Plans), and resolve floor non-conformances (MRB/RCCA). This role requires a technical engineer with a strong background in high-volume battery or electric vehicle manufacturing who excels at root-cause analysis and dimensional metrology.

What You’ll Do:

• Manufacturing Line Support: Serve as the dedicated quality engineering contributor for battery pack and electric powertrain assembly lines, resolving real-time production quality issues, non-conformances, and Material Review Board (MRB) dispositions.
• Advanced Quality Planning (APQP): Lead process quality activities, including the development, execution, and updating of Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (PFMEAs), Control Plans, and Statistical Process Control (SPC) protocols for powertrain manufacturing.
• GD&T & Metrology Execution: Apply ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards to review 2D engineering drawings and perform/verify physical dimensional inspections using metrology tools (CMMs, articulated arms, laser trackers, or surface plate layouts).
• Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA): Perform deep technical failure analyses on manufacturing defects—investigating process physics such as spot welding issues, thermal runaway/containment factors, contamination, or corrosion.
• First Article & Process Validation: Oversee product quality validation, vendor component integration, and AS19102 First Article Inspections (FAIs) for automated and semi-automated powertrain assembly equipment.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner directly with Powertrain Design, Battery Manufacturing, and Supplier Quality teams to feed shop-floor quality data back into design and process improvement loops.

What You Need:

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Materials, or Automotive Engineering (or equivalent technical experience) with 5+ years of hands-on quality or manufacturing engineering experience in battery, EV, or powertrain manufacturing environments.
• Automotive / EV Domain Expertise: Proven experience supporting high-volume automated manufacturing lines, battery pack assembly, electric motors, or power electronics.
• Applied GD&T & Metrology: Strong working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards, 2D technical drawings, and hands-on experience using dimensional metrology equipment (CMM, FARO/Romer arms, surface plates).
• Quality Methodologies: Demonstrated expertise executing APQP tools, including PFMEAs, Control Plans, Measurement System Analysis (MSA), and RCCA/CAPA frameworks.
• Digital Ecosystems: Experience navigating PLM, MES, and ERP platforms (e.g., Teamcenter, SAP) to author digital inspection plans and disposition quality notifications.
• Technical Problem Solving: Ability to troubleshoot manufacturing process anomalies down to the root physical failure mechanism in a fast-paced environment.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Automotive OEM Background: Prior experience at an EV OEM or Tier-1 supplier (e.g., battery pack assembly, automated module joining, or thermal interface material dispensing).
• Advanced Quality Tools: Experience with AS9145 standards, PPAP production sign-offs, and design for manufacturing/assembly (DFM/DFA) principles.
• Certifications: ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification.
• Industry Standards: Knowledge of metric-based automotive manufacturing practices, ISO/IATF 16949, or AS9100 quality management systems.

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.

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 $120,400 - $150,500. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

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Certain positions may be eligible for visa sponsorship.

Archer is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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 [email protected]. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.