Sr/Staff Automation Controls Engineer

XWING; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 131,700 - 209,030; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs and equity

Health benefits

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Paid time off

Disability & Life Insurance

Job summary

Joby Aviation in San Carlos, CA seeks a Senior/Staff Automation Controls Engineer to lead electrical design for first-generation manufacturing test equipment validating powertrain and electronics for the S4 aircraft.

You will architect end-of-line test platforms, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and drive precision measurement and data acquisition solutions in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related discipline required.
• 6+ years of experience developing electrical hardware and test equipment in manufacturing or product development.
• Strong foundation in analog and digital circuit analysis, instrumentation, and measurement systems.
• Experience developing end-of-line (EOL) or electronics manufacturing test equipment.
• Proficiency in PLC programming using Structured Text IEC 61131-3 (TwinCAT), Python, and Ignition.
• Experience selecting and integrating precision sensors, DAQ hardware, and instrumentation.
• Proficiency in electrical schematic creation (AutoCAD Electrical).
• Hands-on experience building and wiring electrical panels and test systems.
• Experience architecting data acquisition systems connecting PLCs, SCADA, and MES.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with cross-functional engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical architecture and controls development for first-generation manufacturing and EOL test equipment from concept through low-volume production.
• Apply electrical engineering fundamentals to develop robust electronics test systems.
• Design and integrate high-precision sensors, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems into Beckhoff-based platform.
• Develop full electrical designs, drawing packages, BOMs, and schematics for complex manufacturing test equipment.
• Architect test methodologies for validation of electronic assemblies, power electronics, and electromechanical systems.
• Design electrical systems compliant with NEC, NFPA, and UL508A requirements.
• Procure custom and off-the-shelf hardware and manage technical suppliers as needed.
• Design, write, and debug PLC software in Structured Text IEC 61131-3 (TwinCAT) to automate test sequences and equipment operation.
• Develop HMI and data collection tools using Ignition (Perspective) and integrate results into manufacturing databases.
• Lead system integration and commissioning of test equipment, ensuring measurement accuracy, repeatability, and reliability.
• Troubleshoot complex electrical and electronic test systems in a production environment.

Skills

TwinCAT PLC

Python

Ignition Perspective

Sensors & DAQ

Electrical schematics

Data acquisition

Electrical hardware

Beckhoff EtherCAT

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Ignition

Job description

Sr/Staff Automation Controls Engineer

Job Locations: US-CA-San Carlos

Job Details

• ID: 2026-4782
• Category: Manufacturing Engineering
• Type: Regular Full-Time

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 passionate individual to join our Powertrain and Electronics team as a Senior/Staff Automation Controls Engineer in San Carlos, CA. As part of this team, you will lead the electrical engineering design and development of first-generation manufacturing test equipment used to validate powertrain and electronic systems for the Joby S4 aircraft. This role combines automation controls with deep electrical engineering fundamentals, requiring strong analytical capability in circuit design, precision measurement, sensor selection, and electronics validation. You will architect robust end-of-line (EOL) and electronics test platforms that form the foundation for scalable, automated manufacturing systems. The Joby Aviation team is made up of extremely talented, hardworking, proactive, and hands-on individuals operating in a fast-paced and rewarding environment as we push toward FAA certification, scale manufacturing, and prepare for commercial service.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical architecture and controls development for first-generation manufacturing and EOL test equipment from concept through low-volume production
• Apply strong electrical engineering fundamentals (circuit analysis, signal integrity, grounding, noise mitigation, power distribution, precision measurement) to develop robust electronics test systems
• Design and integrate high-precision sensors, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems into Beckhoff-based platform
• Develop full electrical designs, drawing packages, BOMs, and schematics for complex manufacturing test equipment
• Architect test methodologies for validation of electronic assemblies, power electronics, and electromechanical systems
• Design electrical systems compliant with NEC, NFPA, and UL508A requirements
• Procure custom and off-the-shelf hardware and manage technical suppliers as needed
• Design, write, and debug PLC software in Structured Text IEC 61131-3 (TwinCAT) to automate test sequences and equipment operation
• Develop HMI and data collection tools using Ignition (Perspective) and integrate results into manufacturing databases
• Lead system integration and commissioning of test equipment, ensuring measurement accuracy, repeatability, and reliability
• Troubleshoot complex electrical and electronic test systems in a production environment

Required

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering (strongly preferred) or related discipline
• 6+ years of experience developing electrical hardware and test equipment in a manufacturing or product development environment
• Strong foundation in analog and digital circuit analysis, instrumentation, and measurement systems
• Experience developing end-of-line (EOL) or electronics manufacturing test equipment
• Proficiency in PLC programming using Structured Text IEC 61131-3 (TwinCAT), Python, and Ignition
• Experience selecting and integrating precision sensors, DAQ hardware, and instrumentation
• Proficiency in electrical schematic creation (AutoCAD Electrical)
• Hands-on experience building and wiring electrical panels and test systems
• Experience architecting data acquisition systems connecting PLCs, SCADA, and MES
• Strong organizational and communication skills with cross-functional engineering teams

Desired

• 8+ years of relevant industry experience
• Experience with Beckhoff hardware and EtherCAT-based measurement systems
• Experience designing high-accuracy electrical test systems for power electronics or aerospace applications
• Knowledge of servo/drive system integration
• Experience with HMI/SCADA development using Ignition (Perspective)
• Familiarity with calibration methods, measurement uncertainty, and statistical analysis for production test
• Knowledge of NEC, NFPA, and UL508A

Additional Information

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $131,700 - $209,030/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