Flight Test Lead - Autonomy & 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

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.