Operational Evaluation Deployment Lead - Advanced Development

Socket.dev; Concord (CA); On-site; USD 208,000 - 273,000; Full time

Job summary

Joby Aviation seeks an Operational Evaluation Deployment Lead to serve as the senior operational leader for CONUS and OCONUS civil and military flight operations and sustainment for the J208 aircraft. You will manage a multi-disciplinary deployed team, coordinate field maintenance, and ensure regulatory compliance across remote airfields.

You will lead on-site operational decisions, engage with military and civil stakeholders, and drive programmatic success with the program lead and flight test

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical discipline with 8+ years of relevant operational experience
• Master’s degree with 6+ years experience, or equivalent practical experience
• Experience leading deployed technical teams in flight test, aviation operations, or field sustainment environments
• Strong knowledge of civil and/or military aviation regulations, flight operations safety frameworks, and compliance standards
• Active US Security Clearance, or ability to obtain and maintain a US Security Clearance post-hire
• Ability to travel up to 50% domestically (CONUS) and internationally (OCONUS)
• US Person Status: This position requires access to technology, materials, or software that is subject to export control regulations under ITAR or EAR
• This role requires qualification as a “US Person” per regulatory definitions

Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and integrate cross-functional deployment teams carrying out CONUS and OCONUS civil and military flight operations and sustainment activities for the J208 program
• Serve as the primary operational leader and decision‑maker on‑site, overseeing complex logistical workflows, flight preparation, and field sustainment plans
• Interface directly with military, civil, and customer stakeholders to align mission parameters, operational requirements, and site support
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures during all operational evaluations
• Represent the product and program to prospective and current customers, working closely with the program lead and developmental flight test lead to drive programmatic success
• Manage a multi-disciplinary deployed team and coordinate field maintenance, turnaround, and ground‑support logistics
• Build cross‑team alignment to adapt operational processes and field practices dynamically based on unique deployment conditions

Skills

Leadership experience

Aviation operations

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/technical discipline

Master’s degree

Job description

Company Overview

Joby Advanced Development 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

Joby Aviation is seeking an Operational Evaluation Deployment Lead to serve as the senior operational leader for a team executing CONUS and OCONUS civil and military flight operations and sustainment for the J208 aircraft (a Cessna Caravan integrated with Superpilot autonomy technology). In this role, you will be responsible for overall mission execution, logistics coordination, stakeholder and customer engagement, and strict adherence to regulatory, safety, and policy guidelines. You will be expected to lead and manage a multi-disciplinary deployed team — including pilots, remote operators, maintenance crewmembers, and field service engineers — while coordinating hands‑on aircraft maintenance, turnaround, and ground‑support logistics (FBO access, hangar space, parts/tools) at remote or unfamiliar airfields. This position requires significant technical expertise, demonstrated leadership of deployed flight operations teams, and a willingness to travel to operating locations, expecting roughly 50%.

Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and integrate cross-functional deployment teams carrying out CONUS and OCONUS civil and military flight operations and sustainment activities for the J208 program
• Serve as the primary operational leader and decision‑maker on‑site, overseeing complex logistical workflows, flight preparation, and field sustainment plans
• Interface directly with military, civil, and customer stakeholders to align mission parameters, operational requirements, and site support
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures during all operational evaluations
• Represent the product and program to prospective and current customers, working closely with the program lead and developmental flight test lead to drive programmatic success
• Manage a multi-disciplinary deployed team and coordinate field maintenance, turnaround, and ground‑support logistics
• Build cross‑team alignment to adapt operational processes and field practices dynamically based on unique deployment conditions

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or technical discipline with 8+ years of relevant operational experience, including formal leadership positions, Master’s degree with 6+ years, or equivalent practical experience
• Demonstrated experience leading deployed technical teams in flight test, aviation operations, or field sustainment environments
• Proven track record of managing multi-discipline teams, logistics, and field support workflows in remote or complex operating environments
• Strong knowledge of civil and/or military aviation regulations, flight operations safety frameworks, and compliance standards
• Active US Security Clearance, or ability to obtain and maintain a US Security Clearance post-hire
• Ability to travel up to 50% domestically (CONUS) and internationally (OCONUS)
• US Person Status: This position requires access to technology, materials, or software that is subject to export control regulations under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or the Export
• Administration Regulations (EAR). To comply with these regulations, applicants must be a "U.S. Person" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or individual granted asylum or refugee status)

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

• Prior military aviator background with experience managing flight operations, airfield operations, and unit-level maintenance
• Demonstrated experience leading deployed technical or flight operations teams specifically on US military installations
• Familiarity with uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), autonomous flight systems, or experimental aircraft technology integration
• Strong communication skills with a track record of building coalitions across military, civil, and contractor stakeholders

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $207,600 - $273,200/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.