Lead Flight Test Engineer – VTOL Systems & Configuration

Joby Aviation Inc; California; On-site; USD 171,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs

Healthcare benefits

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Joby Aviation Inc. is seeking a Flight Test Aircraft Engineering Lead in California to guide a multidisciplinary team responsible for configuring, operating, and sustaining flight test aircraft.

The role balances safety, technical rigor, and schedule objectives to maximize fleet availability and mission readiness. The position requires leading engineering with a focus on configuration control, mass properties tracking, and engineering change processes, using tools like JIRA and IFS to resolve

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Systems Engineering or closely related STEM discipline.
• 8+ years hands-on engineering in flight testing, aircraft maintenance engineering, or systems integration.
• Proven track record leading multidisciplinary teams in high-tempo aerospace environments.
• Experience with aircraft configuration control, mass properties tracking, and maintenance release processes.
• Strong troubleshooting and fleet issue tracking using enterprise tools (JIRA, IFS, PLM/ERP).
• Excellent cross-functional communication aligning design, maintenance, and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of aircraft engineers and maintainers.
• Act as engineering authority between flight test and design teams for in-flight issues and releases.
• Document baseline and test-specific configurations, mass properties, and records across tools like JIRA/IFS.
• Coordinate work instructions, engineering changes, and post-maintenance verification with maintenance teams.
• Plan schedules with program management and optimize spares/logistics to meet milestones.

Skills

Leadership & Mentoring

Flight Test Engineering

Troubleshooting

Configuration Management

Mass Properties Tracking

Engineering Change Processes

Cross-functional Communication

Education

BS in Aerospace Engineering

BS in Mechanical Engineering

BS in Electrical Engineering

BS in Systems Engineering

Tools

JIRA

IFS

Job description

Joby Aviation Inc. is seeking a Flight Test Aircraft Engineering Lead in California to guide a multidisciplinary team responsible for configuring, operating, and sustaining flight test aircraft.

The role balances safety, technical rigor, and schedule objectives to maximize fleet availability and mission readiness. The position requires leading engineering with a focus on configuration control, mass properties tracking, and engineering change processes, using tools like JIRA and IFS to resolve