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Salary: USD 120,400 - 150,500 / annual
Archer Technologies, a Silicon Valley-based leader in advanced air mobility, is seeking a Senior Product Quality Engineer to join the Quality Engineering team at the Salinas flight test operations center. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role embedded in flight line operations, where you will execute quality controls and ensure developmental aircraft, integrated systems, and flight hardware meet safety, operational, and regulatory airworthiness standards.
You will work directly alongside flight test crews, assembly engineers, and technicians to develop digital inspection plans, process non-conformances through Material Review Boards (MRB), perform root-cause investigations, and support FAA conformity inspections. The role bridges quality engineering with active flight operations in a fast-paced, prototype-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as an embedded quality contributor on the flight line, inspecting and dispositioning airframe components, avionics, wire harnesses, and integrated systems in hangar and flight line settings.
- Assist with hardware, documentation, and tooling preparation for company and FAA conformity inspections, performing AS19102 First Article Inspections (FAIs) and regulatory verification checks.
- Conduct Material Review Board (MRB) dispositions and apply Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA/CAPA) techniques to resolve technical defects on flight hardware.
- Develop and maintain electronic inspection plans within Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to ensure consistent verification across flight line operations and maintenance activities.
- Apply ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) principles to review 2D drawings and 3D Model-Based Definitions (MBD), using metrology tools (FARO arms, surface plates, optical trackers) to verify physical hardware.
- Partner closely with Design, Aircraft Integration, and Test Operations to feed flight line learnings back into manufacturing and engineering design loops.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent technical experience) with 5+ years of hands-on quality or manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace or flight test environments.
- Direct, hands-on experience supporting active flight lines, flight test centers, or aircraft hangar operations.
- Applied working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and experience verifying complex physical assemblies against engineering models.
- Proven experience with AS19102 First Article Inspections (FAI), MRB dispositioning, and FAA conformity inspection processes.
- Experience navigating PLM, MES, and ERP platforms (e.g., Teamcenter, SAP) to execute inspection plans and disposition non-conformances.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, solve complex technical problems with minimal guidance, and drive processes to completion in evolving, early-stage engineering programs.
Bonus Qualifications:
- Valid FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) license or exposure/credentials as an FAA Designee (DMAR, DAR, or DER).
- Experience with composite structural assembly, high-voltage battery systems, or complex aircraft wire harness integration.
- Hands-on experience with APQP methodologies (AS9145), PFMEAs, Control Plans, and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
- Familiarity with AS9100, AS9102, AS9103, and AS6500 standards.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certifications.
- Exposure to electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL), urban air mobility (UAM), or prototype aircraft development programs.
