Senior Autonomy Flight Physics Engineer

Joby Aviation•Santa Cruz, CA

About The Position

Joby Flight Research 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. The Flight Research team at Joby is seeking a highly capable flight physics engineer with deep expertise in aerodynamics, propulsion, aircraft design, flight dynamics, performance, and aeroelasticity. This role is a unique opportunity to apply physical models with multiple levels of fidelity to aircraft modeling problems, from simulating novel aircraft configurations to solving challenging dynamics and control problems that have no playbook.You’ll join a small, tightly integrated team responsible for the development of aerodynamic, aeroelastics, and propulsion models used across Joby’s autonomy developments, research and development efforts. Ideal candidates are exceptional problem solvers, comfortable operating at the intersection of software, physics, and math, and excited by the opportunity to invent new methods when existing ones fall short.We value curiosity, initiative, and the ability to work independently while collaborating deeply with adjacent teams in GNC, simulation, aircraft design, and flight software.

Requirements

An advanced degree (PhD/MS/MEng) in a related discipline and 2+ yrs relevant industry experience.
Intuitive grasp of high lift and propulsively coupled aerodynamic flowfields
Fundamental and expert-level understanding of different aerodynamic modeling techniques and approaches, including vortex lattice, nonlinear lifting line, blade element momentum and CFD.
Experience specifying ground or flight test experiments for comparison to flight physics predictions
Expert-level knowledge and experience with aero modeling technique selection based on the requirements of different applications.
Expert-level knowledge of fixed wing aircraft dynamics and application to advanced concept aircraft
Familiarity and proficiency with Python.
Experience with aeroelastic modeling, e.g. ASWING
Working knowledge of aircraft guidance and control
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.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated flight vehicle prototyping experience
Experience with a high-performance language (e.g. Fortran or C++)
Surrogate modeling experience

Responsibilities

Participate in early aircraft design trade studies, and lead trade studies focused on flight physics domains
Design aerodynamic surfaces and propulsor elements for high performance while meeting aircraft constraints
Design and evaluate flight trajectories subject to control authority limits and performance constraints as part of aircraft trade studies
Generate models of aerodynamic characteristics of both proven and novel aircraft using appropriate physical models (e.g. vortex lattice, integral boundary layer, CFD)
Collaborate with simulation team to distill aerodynamic models into appropriate format for real time simulation
Serve as a subject matter expert in aeropropulsive interaction and thrust-drag accounting
Generate aeroelastic models and participate in the aeroservoelastic evaluation loop with subject matter experts from GNC
Specify necessary ground and flight test experiments and collaborate with technical and production teams to produce test articles and procedures.
Participate in the evaluation of flight test data to perform system identification and validate models.