Autonomy Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Xwing; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 181,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Joby Advanced Development seeks an Autonomy Senior Machine Learning Engineer to design and build perception and reasoning algorithms for the Superpilot autonomy stack. You will train perception models, develop robust perception software for autonomous flight, and apply data-centric AI for simulation and sensing with cameras, lidars, and radar.

You will collaborate with sensing, controls, and flight software engineers to build fast, safe iterations across multiple aircraft programs.

Qualifications

• Degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in machine learning.
• Experience in developing software and systems for autonomous vehicles.
• Strong proficiency in python.
• Extensive practical knowledge of state-of-art models for real-time perception.
• Deep understanding of 3D computer vision and machine learning for video.
• Ability to invent and quickly prototype technical solutions in autonomy.
• Proven ability to document complex technical designs, architectural trade-offs, and implementation roadmaps.
• Champion of software best practices, including rigorous code reviews and mentorship.
• Excellent communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Autonomy ML Development: Design, train, and maintain state-of-the-art ML models for perception on autonomous aircraft.
• Autonomy Technical Solutions: Optimize and tune real-time AI perception algorithms for autonomous aircraft.
• Contribute to software development for data management, annotation, and curation; modeling, simulation, and analysis tooling.
• Collaborate with the Superpilot team to ideate, plan and execute high-quality, integrated solutions.
• Monitor system health and performance, addressing issues and providing user support.

Skills

Python

Machine learning

3D computer vision

Communication

Mentorship

Education

Degree in computer science or related field

Tools

MLflow

Kubeflow

ROS2

C++

Job description

Autonomy Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Job Locations

US-CA-Santa Cruz | US-CA-Concord

Category

Flight Research

Type

Regular Full-Time

Company Overview

Joby Advanced Development designs, develops, and flight-tests novel aircraft using a software-first autonomy approach. We build and deploy autonomy, perception, planning, and radar systems across conventional, electric, and hydrogen-electric aircraft in both CTOL and VTOL configurations.

Overview

Joby Advanced Development is seeking an Autonomy Senior Machine Learning Engineer, to design and build the state-of-the-art perception and reasoning algorithms for our Superpilot™ autonomy stack. This position offers a unique opportunity to enable our aircraft to safely and autonomously navigate their complex environment. In this role, you will design and develop solutions for aircraft autonomy involving perception, navigation, and other applications. You will work closely with other software engineers and AI experts in computer vision, robotics, navigation, and controls. The role requires deep expertise with machine learning algorithms, hands-on software engineering, and autonomous systems industry experience.

You will train perception models and develop robust perception software for autonomous flight. Further, you will also apply a data-centric approach to creating AI solutions for simulation, mapping, and advanced sensing with cameras, lidars, and radar. Your work will help teams deploy state-of-the-art AI algorithms and systems for autonomous flight on multiple types of aircraft.

We are a small, high-impact team that values curiosity, technical initiative, and the ability to operate independently. You will collaborate deeply with sensing, controls, and flight software engineers to build a foundation that accelerates our path to safe, autonomous flight. The right candidate is a strong autonomy machine learning engineer who cares deeply about system design, software engineering, and enabling fast, safe iteration across multiple aircraft programs.

Responsibilities

• Autonomy ML Development
  • Design, train, and maintain state-of-the-art ML models for perception on autonomous aircraft
  • Combine deep learning and 3D computer vision techniques for sensor fusion, navigation, and detect-and-avoid
  • Build high-performance model training pipelines and extensive evaluation systems to ensure reliability and quality
• Autonomy Technical Solutions
  • Optimize and tune real-time AI perception algorithms for autonomous aircraft
  • Contribute to software development for data management, annotation, and curation
  • Contribute to autonomy modeling, simulation, and analysis software tooling
• Collaborate closely with the rest of the Superpilot™ team to ideate, plan and execute on high-quality, well-integrated solutions and features
• Monitor system health and performance, proactively addressing issues and providing user support

Required

• Degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in machine learning
• Experience in developing software and systems for autonomous vehicles
• Strong proficiency in python
• Extensive practical knowledge of state-of-art models for real-time perception
• Deep understanding of 3D computer vision and machine learning for video
• Ability to invent and quickly prototype technical solutions in autonomy
• Proven ability to document complex technical designs, architectural trade-offs, and implementation roadmaps
• Champion of software best practices, including rigorous code reviews and mentorship
• Excellent communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams

Desired

• Expert-level software engineering: deep expertise in architecting and writing clean, scalable, and maintainable code
• Professional software development experience with multi-disciplinary teams in aerospace autonomy
• Experience in autonomous vehicle software development
• Experience deploying ML models in a production environment using modern MLOps principles and tools (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow)
• Experience in processing aircraft sensors data such as GPS, inertial, ADS-B, air data, radio data
• Experience in ROS2 or related middleware and DDS systems
• Competence in C++

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $180,500 - $250,000/yr. The compensation package will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Joby also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan with a company match, an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.

Additional Information

Joby Aviation is an equal opportunity employer.