Strategic Aerospace Program Manager - Special Projects

Joby Aviation; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 219,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs

Job summary

Joby Flight Research seeks a Technical Program Manager to own the end-to-end integrated development program for a confidential new business. You will align hardware, software, payload integration, and test campaigns with external partners and customers, reporting to the Head of Aircraft Development.

The role requires strong program management in advanced technology, excellent communication with executives and technical teams, and the ability to navigate uncertainty while driving toward

Qualifications

• 4+ years of technical program management experience.
• 3+ years of engineering experience, ideally in an aerospace & defense program.
• Proven program management experience in advanced technology development - ideally space, aviation, autonomy, or related industries.
• Strong ability to manage scope, uncertainty, and complexity - with a record of delivering programs where success wasn't guaranteed.
• Solid technical literacy in one or more areas: embedded systems, autonomy/AI, controls, sensing technologies, aerospace systems, wireless communications / RF systems.
• Experience with vertical integration, supply chain and manufacturing management.
• Exceptional communication skills: able to engage executive leadership, deep technical teams, and external partners with equal fluency.
• Demonstrated ability to drive decision-making across stakeholders with diverse priorities.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

• Drive the integrated program schedule: ownership of development plan spanning hardware, software, systems integration, and validation, with plans for service introduction.
• Cross-functional integration: act as essential integrator across aircraft development, payload development, systems engineering, integration, flight test, and business development.
• Operate without a playbook: scope, prioritize, and solve complex challenges with cross-functional teams from inception through testing and field introduction.
• Proactive risk management: identify and assess risk across tech readiness, scope, and resources; run trade-off analyses.
• Coordinate external technical partnerships: translate partner requirements to internal plans and track commitments.
• Build processes and program structures for scale: develop scalable processes and adaptable roadmaps for rapid innovation.
• Partner with the Business Team: provide timelines for commercial/government engagements and commitments.

Skills

Technical PM

Engineering experience

Aerospace & defense

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Communication skills

Decision making

Ownership mindset

Bachelor's degree in engineering/comps

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or related technical field

Job description

Joby Flight Research seeks a Technical Program Manager to own the end-to-end integrated development program for a confidential new business. You will align hardware, software, payload integration, and test campaigns with external partners and customers, reporting to the Head of Aircraft Development.

The role requires strong program management in advanced technology, excellent communication with executives and technical teams, and the ability to navigate uncertainty while driving toward