Mechanical Engineering Lead - Power Electronics

Joby Aviation•San Carlos, CA

About The Position

Joby is seeking a hands-on mechanical engineering leader to guide the team responsible for designing power electronics hardware, including propulsion inverters and smaller inverters for control surfaces and other actuators. The role leads a team of approximately five mechanical engineers and works closely with electrical, thermal, manufacturing, and systems teams to take designs from early architecture through certification and into production. The position combines people leadership with direct technical involvement. The lead will coach and develop the team, set mechanical design direction, and contribute to engineering decisions and design tradeoffs. The role may also lead cross-functional teams on selected programs. The team’s practices will be shaped around simple, elegant designs grounded in first-principles analysis and rapid iteration.

Requirements

B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in mechanical engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
At least 8 years of mechanical design experience, focused on electromechanical systems.
Experience mentoring and developing engineers.
Demonstrated success leading complex projects from concept through production.
Strong grounding in thermal and structural design for electronics, including cooling, vibration, and packaging.
Hands-on experience with design, prototyping, and testing.
Proficiency with CAD and thermal and mechanical analysis tools.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and efficiently to engineers and non-engineers.

Nice To Haves

At least 2 years in a management role leading engineers or technical teams.
Experience with power electronics, such as inverters, power modules, battery systems, or motor/actuator drives.
High-voltage design experience, including busbars, creepage and clearance, potting, and connectors.
Experience with environmental qualification, such as DO-160, and aerospace certification processes.
Experience with reliability and safety analysis, such as FMEA.
Experience taking products through production.
Experience with CATIA (v6/3Dx preferred) or comparable enterprise CAD/PLM tools.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of approximately five mechanical engineers, including hiring, performance feedback, and career growth.
Own mechanical design for propulsion inverters and smaller actuator and control-surface inverters.
Guide design decisions involving thermal management, structural and vibration performance, high-voltage packaging, sealing, and electromagnetic interference.
Lead projects through architecture, design, prototyping, testing, qualification, certification, and production.
Partner with electrical, thermal, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and systems teams to align projects with company and program goals.
Lead cross-functional project teams when needed.
Promote sound engineering practices, including first-principles analysis, design reviews, design for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/DFA), and test-driven verification and validation.
Stay hands-on by reviewing designs, supporting analysis and testing, and helping the team solve technical problems.