Regional Safety Engineer, Composites & Flight Operations

The Regional Safety Engineer provides hands-on safety and environmental support to Archer’s Huntington Beach composites manufacturing site and Hawthorne Airport flight operations. This role owns day-to-day implementation of Archer’s Safety and Environmental Services programs in the region, with a focus on high-hazard equipment (autoclaves, pressure vessels, ovens, CNC machining, dust collection, compressors, chillers) and aircraft/ground operations. The engineer partners closely with site leadership, maintenance, facilities, and flight ops to drive risk down while enabling schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as primary safety engineer for Huntington Beach and Hawthorne, serving as the first point of contact for supervisors and technicians on EHS questions and issues.
• Lead pre-startup safety reviews (PSSRs) and buy-offs for regional equipment and processes, including autoclaves, ovens, pressure vessels and air receivers, CNC/gantry systems, dust collection, compressed air/vacuum systems, and refrigeration/chiller systems.
• Own regional compliance for Cal/OSHA pressure vessel/air receiver requirements (registration, inspections, relief devices, nameplate verification) in coordination with Facilities and third-party inspectors.
• Support electrical and machine-safety risk assessments for 480 V, high-amp equipment (autoclaves, ovens, chillers, compressors, CNC) including arc-flash label implementation, LOTO procedures, guarding, and safe-work practices.
• Develop and maintain documented operating envelopes and safety limits for thermal processes (autoclave cures, oven cycles, reefer operations), aligned with OEM ratings and Archer’s manufacturing requirements.
• Evaluate combustible dust and airborne composite hazards (machining/trim cells, sanding, dust collectors); drive controls such as source capture, collector design/protection, housekeeping standards, and respiratory protection where needed.
• Oversee safe management of compressed air and vacuum systems, including guarding of rotating components, piping/hosing integrity, condensate/oil handling, and prevention of trip, struck-by, or stored-energy hazards.
• Coordinate hazardous materials and waste controls related to site equipment (refrigerants such as R-134a, process oils, resins, water-treatment media), including labeling, storage, spill response, and proper waste classification and disposal.
• Provide direct safety support to Hawthorne flight operations: ramp safety, aircraft ground handling, walk-around/maintenance hazards, tug and GSE use, fueling interfaces, and coordination with airport rules and procedures.
• Conduct routine inspections and structured hazard walks at both locations, generate clear corrective actions, and track closure with accountable owners.
• Support incident investigations, near-miss reviews, and root-cause analysis for the region; ensure findings translate into practical engineering or procedural controls.
• Deliver targeted safety training and toolbox talks for local teams (LOTO, machine safety, pressure systems, flight-line safety, contractor controls), coordinating with the central safety training function.
• Partner with Facilities and Projects on change management (MOC) for new equipment, relocations, and process changes; ensure regulatory triggers (Cal/OSHA, fire code, air district, building permits) are identified and addressed early.
• Maintain site-level EHS documentation: procedures, checklists, inspection records, equipment safety files, and PSSR/buy-off packages for assigned assets.
• Support contractor and vendor management in the region, including pre-job risk review, orientation expectations, and safe work verification around high-hazard systems.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Industrial/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering, Environmental Health & Safety, or related technical field; equivalent experience considered.
• 5+ years of EHS or safety engineering experience in aerospace, aviation maintenance, advanced composites, or heavy manufacturing, with direct exposure to high-hazard equipment (pressure vessels, ovens, CNC/machining, or similar).
• Demonstrated experience supporting flight operations, aircraft maintenance, or airport/ramp environments (Part 91/135/121 or experimental flight test), including familiarity with flight-line hazards and controls.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA/Cal-OSHA requirements and relevant codes/standards for: machine guarding, LOTO, electrical safety, pressure vessels/boilers, walking-working surfaces, and respiratory protection.
• Hands-on experience conducting formal hazard/risk assessments and PSSRs, writing practical procedures, and implementing engineered and administrative controls in active operations.
• Proven ability to collaborate on the floor with technicians, maintenance, and operations leaders, and to influence without formal authority across functions and locations.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly between Huntington Beach, Hawthorne, and other regional sites (target 25–40%).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with composites manufacturing processes (prepreg layup, bonding, cure, trim) and associated chemical and dust hazards.
• Direct experience with autoclave and large industrial oven safety, including OEM interfaces, over-temperature/over-pressure protection, and validation/qualification activities.
• Prior work with combustible dust systems and dust collectors in aerospace or industrial settings.
• Familiarity with airport operations manuals, ground handling standards, and coordination with airport authorities or FBOs.
• Professional certification such as CSP, CIH, CHMM, or equivalent, or clear progress toward one.

At Archer, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent with the skills and leadership needed to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $117,800 - $155,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by 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.