Program Operations Lead

Joby Aviation•Concord, CA

7h•$149,900 - $254,800

About The Position

As the Program Operations Lead, you will work closely with the J208 Program Lead in a multifaceted leadership role bridging technical program execution, fiscal alignment, and strategic business development. You will establish the program’s operational rhythm, align cross-functional engineering and production initiatives, partner with Finance on budget health and forecasting, and contribute to business development by finding customers and fostering business.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Operations, or a related field and 8+ years of relevant experience; a master’s degree and 6+ years; a PhD and 3+ years; or 11+ years of demonstrated professional experience.
Proven track record leading program management initiatives across complex hardware, software, or multidisciplinary engineering systems.
Demonstrated experience collaborating with finance or project controls teams to align operational schedules with program budgets and resource allocations.
Background partnering with business development, commercial partners, or external stakeholders on contract deliverables and project roadmaps.
Capability to operate with high autonomy, drive alignment across diverse teams, and translate complex technical challenges into clear operational actions.
Active US Security Clearance, or ability to obtain and maintain a US Security Clearance after hire.
Must qualify as a “US Person” under 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 to meet US export control compliance requirements. The description defines a US Person as a US Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (Master’s or MBA) in Engineering, Management, or a related field.
Experience in aerospace, defense, or safety-critical multidisciplinary vehicle development programs.
Direct familiarity with aviation certification phases, flight test lifecycles, or government procurement frameworks.
Proficiency with modern program management, scheduling, and tracking tools.

Responsibilities

Partner with the J208 Program Lead to establish operating mechanisms, project governance, and integrated program tracking across engineering and operational teams.
Assist program managers and provide direct leadership where necessary to organize cross-functional technical workflows, integrating schedule milestones, technical dependencies, and risk mitigation strategies across flight hardware and software teams.
Interface regularly with Finance to define program resource requirements, validate expenditure forecasts, and translate financial milestones into operational plans; Finance drives primary budget accounting and ledgers.
Collaborate with Business Development and commercial teams to evaluate program requirements, scope operational deliverables, and support proposals for external stakeholders and partners.
Resolve complex cross-functional program bottlenecks by establishing scalable processes, clear accountability metrics, and transparent communication channels.
Communicate program progress, critical-path interdependencies, and strategic trade-offs to program leadership and cross-functional teams.
Perform other tasks as needed to support the overall operation of the program.