Senior Flight Test Aircraft Engineer

Joby Aviation•Marina, CA

12h•$144,100 - $193,400

About The Position

As a Senior Flight Test Aircraft Engineer in Joby’s Flight Test department, you will serve as the technical authority for assigned Flight Test aircraft assets. You will help manage the experimental S4 aircraft fleet used for research and development, show compliance, and exhibition purposes. The role interfaces with Maintenance, Engineering, Production, Quality, Airworthiness, and Certification teams to coordinate aircraft work and resolve technical challenges. You will control aircraft configuration and contribute directly to the safety and airworthiness of the platform. The position is responsible for aircraft configuration records and changes, work coordination and approval, conformity and certification support, aircraft weight and balance documentation, Safety of Flight compliance, and operational readiness communications. It also provides operational support while aircraft are dispatched and conducts on-aircraft functional tests, rigging, and actuator calibration procedures.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or another technical field, or equivalent experience and training.
At least 8 years of experience working in an aerospace environment.
Experience working in or interfacing with aircraft maintenance, Flight Test, and systems engineering functions.
Excellent interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with colleagues across technical disciplines.
Strong technical leadership and ownership.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Proficient in reading and speaking English.
Ability to accommodate required travel of approximately 30% of duty.

Nice To Haves

Experience as an Aircraft Manager on an experimental Flight Test Program, preferably involving VTOL or STOVL and fly-by-wire platforms.
Civil aircraft certification experience, including use of ARP 4754 processes for requirements and FAA AC 23-8C or AC 27-1B for flight test.
Familiarity with FAA Order 4040.26C.
Familiarity with DO-178C and DO-160.
Experience managing a technical team and projects.

Responsibilities

Serve as the aircraft’s primary technical liaison and interface between the Flight Test team and supporting engineering disciplines.
Approve hardware and software configuration changes and maintain the master Bill of Materials (BOM) and system configuration record.
Coordinate, track, and approve all work, including modifications, performed on assigned aircraft.
Manage configuration documentation to ensure traceability to engineering specifications.
Collaborate with Aircraft Quality Control and Certification Engineering to maintain conformity required for FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA).
Manage aircraft weight and balance records and produce artifacts used for dispatch.
Support conformity and certification activities by providing accurate aircraft and equipment configuration data.
Facilitate resolution of cross-functional technical issues affecting the aircraft.
Represent and communicate aircraft status and operational/test readiness to Flight Test operations and air crew.
Manage Safety of Flight compliance status for the as-configured aircraft and systems.
Review open non-conformances and discrepancies for Safety of Flight implications.
Provide operational support while assigned aircraft are dispatched, coordinating troubleshooting and facilitating on-demand configuration changes required for testing.
Work with the Airworthiness team to ensure compliance with FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate requirements and manage associated limitations.
Conduct on-aircraft functional tests, rigging, and actuator calibration procedures.