Flight Test Aircraft Engineer Lead

Xwing; California (MO); On-site; USD 171,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs

Base pay + RSUs

Health benefits

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase plan

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

Joby Aviation seeks a Flight Test Aircraft Engineer Lead in Marina, CA to guide a multidisciplinary team in configuring, operating, and sustaining flight test aircraft. You will balance safety, technical rigor, and schedules to maximize fleet readiness and mission success, acting as the engineering authority between flight test and design groups.

The role requires a BS in a STEM field and 8+ years in flight testing or aircraft systems, with proven leadership and strong cross-functional

Qualifications

• BS degree in a STEM field (Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Systems)
• 8+ years of flight test/aircraft systems experience
• Leads multidisciplinary technical teams in high-tempo aerospace environments
• Proficient in aircraft configuration control and mass properties tracking
• Experience with JIRA/IFS/PLM/ERP tools for issue tracking
• Strong cross-functional communication skills

Responsibilities

• Lead, empower, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of aircraft engineers and maintainers
• Serve as the central engineering authority between flight test and design teams to resolve issues and approve releases
• Document and track baseline and test-specific aircraft configurations across enterprise systems
• Coordinate work instructions, engineering changes, and post-maintenance verification
• Collaborate with program management to plan work packages and optimize spares/logistics

Skills

Flight test leadership

Multidisciplinary team mentoring

Configuration control

Mass properties tracking

JIRA/IFS/PLM tools

Cross-functional communication

Education

BS in Engineering (Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Systems)

Tools

JIRA

IFS

PLM/ERP tools

Job description

Flight Test Aircraft Engineer Lead

Job Locations US-CA-Marina

ID 2026-5410

Category Flight Test

Type Regular Full-Time

Company Overview

Imagine a piloted air taxi that takes off vertically, then quietly carries you and your fellow passengers over the congested city streets below, enabling you to spend more time with the people and places that matter most. At Joby, we've been working to make that dream a reality since 2009 and we're now in the final stages of certifying our aircraft with the FAA. With plans to launch our aircraft in the US and Dubai, we're now scaling manufacturing and preparing for the launch of our commercial service.

Overview

The Flight Test Aircraft Engineering Lead is a technical and people leader responsible for guiding a multidisciplinary engineering team to configure, operate, and sustain flight test aircraft in alignment with Flight Test Program goals. Positioned at the key intersection of engineering design, flight test operations, and maintenance execution, this role balances safety, technical rigor, and schedule objectives to maximize fleet availability and mission readiness.

Responsibilities

• Lead, empower, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of aircraft engineers and maintainers, fostering a high-performing culture of safety, cross-functional trust, disciplined configuration management, and adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Serve as the central engineering authority between flight test and design teams to rapidly troubleshoot, prioritize, and resolve in-flight/post-flight technical issues, approve engineering releases, and clear aircraft for daily test missions
• Direct the establishment, tracking, and documentation of baseline and test-specific aircraft configurations—including mass properties, limits, and restrictions—ensuring accurate records across enterprise tracking tools (e.g., JIRA, IFS)
• Lead coordination between engineering and maintenance to plan, review, and approve work instructions, engineering changes, continuous improvement alterations, and post-maintenance verification activities
• Partner with program management to schedule work packages, eliminate technical roadblocks, and optimize spares/logistics planning to maintain a high operational tempo and meet key program milestones

Required

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related STEM discipline
• 8+ years of hands‑on professional engineering experience in flight testing, aircraft maintenance engineering, or aircraft systems integration
• Proven track record of leading, mentoring, or guiding multidisciplinary technical teams in a high‑tempo aerospace flight test or development environment
• In‑depth knowledge of aircraft configuration control, mass properties tracking, engineering change processes, and maintenance release protocols
• Strong experience in technical troubleshooting and fleet issue tracking utilizing enterprise systems (e.g., JIRA, IFS, or equivalent PLM/ERP tools)
• Exceptional cross‑functional communication skills, with a proven ability to align design engineers, maintenance technicians, and program leadership

Desired

• Experience as an Aircraft Manager on an experimental Flight Test Program, preferably including VTOL or STOVL and fly‑by‑wire platforms
• Civil aircraft certification experience including use of ARP 4754 processes for requirements and FAA AC 23-8C or AC 27-1B for flight test
• Familiarity with FAA Order 4040.26C
• Familiarity with DO-178C and DO-160

Additional Information

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $171,200 - $235,400/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.

Joby is an Equal Opportunity Employer