Flight Test Instrumentation Systems Lead

XWING; California (MO); On-site; USD 171,200 - 234,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs

Competitive compensation

Healthcare benefits

Job summary

Joby Aviation is seeking a highly motivated Flight Test Instrumentation Systems Lead to head our Flight Test Instrumentation and Ground Control Station teams in US-CA Marina.

You will design, integrate, operate, and maintain instrumentation, telemetry, and ground stations across the flight test fleet, mentoring engineers and coordinating with programs to ensure calibration, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in flight test instrumentation or data acquisition.
• Proven experience leading and developing technical teams in flight test environments.
• Deep expertise in flight test instrumentation design, data acquisition, telemetry, and sensor integration.
• Strong understanding of flight test processes, aircraft integration, configuration management, and data traceability.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, changing flight test environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow the FTI, telemetry, and Ground Control Stations team.
• Set priorities, workflows, staffing plans aligned with flight test program needs.
• Foster safety, accountability, and technical excellence.
• Own architecture, design, integration, and maintenance of FTI systems.
• Oversee data acquisition, sensors, telemetry, and onboard recording systems.
• Ensure instrumentation readiness, calibration, and reliability for flight tests.
• Plan and manage FTI schedules, budgets, and resource allocation across campaigns.
• Drive coordination across flight test engineering, aircraft integration, maintenance, systems engineering and the program office.
• Develop and maintain processes for design, installation, configuration control, calibration, and maintenance of FTI systems.
• Ensure traceability and compliance with FAA/EASA standards.
• Guide the design of development of hardware and software solutions supporting flight test instrumentation and telemetry.
• Evaluate and integrate new technologies and tools to improve data quality, efficiency, and scalability.
• Provide technical oversight for troubleshooting, anomaly resolution, and root cause investigations.

Skills

Flight test instrumentation

Leadership of technical teams

Data acquisition

Telemetry systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

Tools

LabVIEW

Job description

Flight Test Instrumentation Systems Lead

Job Locations: US-CA-Marina

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

Joby Aviation is seeking a highly motivated Flight Test Instrumentation Systems Lead to lead our Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) & Ground Control Station teams. This role combines technical leadership and people management in a fast‑paced flight test environment supporting both developmental and certification programs.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for the design, integration, operation, and maintenance of instrumentation, telemetry, and ground control stations across the flight test fleet. This is a hands‑on leadership role requiring strong cross‑functional collaboration, technical depth, and the ability to execute and lead in rapidly evolving test environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers and technicians responsible for FTI, telemetry, and Ground Control Stations
• Establish team priorities, workflows, and staffing plans aligned with flight test program needs
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and technical excellence
• Own the architecture, design, integration, and maintenance of all flight test instrumentation systems
• Oversee data acquisition systems, sensors, signal conditioning, telemetry, and onboard recording systems
• Ensure instrumentation readiness, calibration, and reliability for all flight test operations
• Plan and manage FTI schedules, budgets, and resource allocation across multiple test campaigns
• Drive coordination across flight test engineering, aircraft integration, maintenance, systems engineering and the program office
• Develop and maintain processes for design, installation, configuration control, calibration, and maintenance of FTI systems
• Ensure traceability and compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements (FAA/EASA)
• Guide the design of development of hardware and software solutions supporting flight test instrumentation and telemetry
• Evaluate and integrate new technologies and tools to improve data quality, efficiency, and scalability
• Provide technical oversight for troubleshooting, anomaly resolution, and root cause investigations

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in flight test instrumentation, data acquisition, or related domains
• Proven experience leading and developing technical teams in a flight test environment
• Deep expertise in one or more of the following:
  • Flight Test Instrumentation systems design and integration
  • Data acquisition hardware, telemetry systems, and sensor integration
  • Instrumentation installation, calibration, and maintenance
• Strong understanding of:
  • Flight test processes and aircraft integration
  • Configuration management and documentation practices
  • Data quality, validation, and traceability in test environments
• Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, rapidly changing flight test environment

Desired

• Experience with LabVIEW or similar DAQ/software tools
• Experience supporting FAA Part 23/25/27/29 or EASA certification programs
• Knowledge of air data systems and calibration methods
• Familiarity with aircraft wiring, avionics integration, and structural instrumentation (strain, pressure, vibration)
• Experience with Ground Control Stations and telemetry infrastructure
• Demonstrated success scaling teams and processes during rapid program growth

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 - $234,300/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