Flight Test Lead (Advanced Development)

XWING; Concord (CA); On-site; USD 213,100 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs

Healthcare benefits

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

Joby Flight Research in Concord, CA seeks a Flight Test Lead for the Advanced Development team to plan, execute, and analyze flight tests for autonomous aircraft systems. You will drive cross‑functional collaboration across engineering, pilots, and program management to push safe, verifiable testing in line with system integration goals.

The role requires 7+ years in flight test, expert knowledge of flight test principles, and leadership experience; a Private Pilot Certificate is preferred.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 7+ years of experience as a Flight Test Engineer or Test Pilot in developmental or certification environments.
• Expert‑level knowledge of flight test principles gained through time on advanced aircraft projects.
• Private Pilot Certificate is required.
• Proven experience in a leadership or lead role directing multidisciplinary teams.
• Deep understanding of system thinking and root-cause analysis in fast-paced settings.
• Bachelor’s or higher in Aerospace Engineering or related technical field.
• Experience with fly-by-wire, avionics integration, and/or automation.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of flight test plans and objectives for autonomous aircraft systems, ensuring safety and data integrity.
• Direct and mentor a cross‑functional team of engineers and pilots to meet program milestones.
• Develop policies, procedures, and tools for diverse flight test activities across regulatory frameworks.
• Serve as focal point for civil and military airworthiness issuances.
• Provide solutions to complex problems by identifying causes of unusual aircraft behaviors and adapting tests.
• Advise senior leadership on flight test strategy and implications of autonomous software integration.
• Maintain accountability for test results and clearly communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Travel at least 10% to support military exercises or remote test campaigns.

Skills

Flight test leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Safety and data integrity

System thinking

Aerospace engineering

Test planning

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s or higher in Aerospace Engineering

Private Pilot Certificate

Job description

Flight Test Lead (Advanced Development)

Job Locations: US-CA-Concord

Company Overview

Joby Flight Research 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

As a Flight Test Lead within our Advanced Development team, you will serve as a strategic lead for flight test activities focused on our autonomy programs. You will be responsible for the planning, execution, and analysis of flight tests that push the boundaries of available technology. This role requires a deep understanding of how multiple parts of the aircraft system are integrated to achieve company objectives, particularly as we shift toward formal methods of system verification in parallel to ongoing developmental activities. Your team acts as principal stakeholders across disciplines, solving advanced issues and managing down‑line implications for our autonomous flight systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of flight test plans and objectives for autonomous aircraft systems, ensuring all tests are conducted with a focus on safety and data integrity
• Direct and mentor a cross‑functional team of engineers and pilots, building coalitions to achieve complex program milestones
• Develop policies, procedures, and tools for a diverse range of flight test activities with a diverse set of regulatory and airworthiness frameworks
• Serve as the focal point for both civil and military special airworthiness issuances
• Provide creative solutions to often complex problems, identifying the cause of unusual aircraft behaviors and adapting test approaches
• Partner with senior leadership to provide professional expertise on flight test strategy, considering the downstream implications of autonomous software integration
• Maintain accountability for test results that impact multiple functions, ensuring that findings are clearly articulated to stakeholders across the organization
• At least 10% travel required to support short term participation in military exercises or other remote test campaigns

Required

• A minimum of 7+ years of experience as a Flight Test Engineer (Test Conductor/Test Director) or Test Pilot, with a demonstrated history of success in developmental or certification environments, ideally both
• Expert‑level knowledge of flight test principles, typically gained through extensive quality time spent on projects directly related to advanced aircraft development
• Private Pilot Certificate
• Proven experience in a leadership or lead role, with the ability to direct the activities of others and manage complex interdisciplinary efforts
• Deep understanding of system thinking, with the ability to link past successes and failures to root causes in a fast‑paced environment
• Bachelor’s or higher in Aerospace Engineering or a related technical field
• Previous experience with fly‑by‑wire aircraft, avionics integration, and/or automation

This position must meet US export control compliance requirements, therefore a candidate must qualify as a “US Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15. “US Person” includes US Citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees.

Desired

• While not a requirement, previous experience with large (Group III+) is highly desired
• Commercial Pilot Certificate
• Experience with autonomous piloting software testing and validation
• Eligible for DoD security clearance

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $213,100 - $245,000/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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.