Propulsion Systems Engineer

Imagine a piloted air taxi that takes off vertically, then quietly carries you and your fellow passengers over the congested city streets below, enabling you to spend more time with the people and places that matter most. Since 2009, our team has worked steadily to make this dream a reality. We’ve designed and tested many generations of prototype aircraft capable of serving in a network of electric air taxis. We’re looking for talented, committed individuals to join our team as we push onward toward certifying the Joby aircraft, scaling our manufacturing, and launching our initial commercial service.

Overview

Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate senior Systems Engineer to join our electric propulsion team in San Carlos ( CA ), to support the development of the S4 Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicle (EVTOL). As a senior system engineer in the propulsion team, you’ll be the driving force behind technical alignment and integration. You'll define system architecture, coordinate system interactions, manage requirements and interfaces, and ensure the assembly designs operate reliably within the aircraft envelope, from concept through test, certification, and in-service. This role blends technical depth with systems-level orchestration.

The Integrated Flight and Propulsion Control System has responsibility for the aircraft primary flight control functions (pilot inceptors, flight sensors, data processing and communications, control laws, control surface and propulsion effectors, vehicle navigation and air data sensors) and some of the vehicle management functions. You’ll play a central role in translating mission-level goals into engineering execution, ensuring our propulsion system performs as a unified manner within our broader aircraft platform.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage propulsion system-level architecture, requirements, and interfaces
• Track engineering progress and technical dependencies across the subsystem
• Involvement in validation analyses and reviews at all levels for the Propulsion system requirements
• Support product design teams in satisfying system and certification requirements, development analyses, modeling, simulation, assessment of results, and making recommendations and design decisions resulting from these activities
• Lead and performing system integration and verification activities including:
  • Integration/Verification test plan definition
  • Qualification test plan development and reviews
  • Verification test case development and reviews
  • Test procedure reviews and approvals
  • Data reduction, analyses and test report generation
  • Problem reports, resolution, and tracking issues to closure
  • Working with the team to develop means of compliance to regulatory requirements
• Document, analyze, and manage technical risks and opportunities for the Propulsion systems
• Prepare artifacts and briefing material for technical meetings, design reviews, program reviews, safety-of-flight reports and audit meetings with Regulators
• Assists in creating Type Certification documents and reports for Regulatory Authorities
• Support Flight Standards and Maintenance teams in determining and addressing in-service operational consequences
• Collaborating with Product Design, Avionics, Systems, Quality, Maintenance, Flight Operations, Certification, and Program Management cross-functional teams
• Provide guidance to junior engineers in development of the Propulsion system

Required

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics required; Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering preferred
• Application of disciplined systems engineering processes
• Familiarity with requirements management and safety assessment concepts
• Experience with digital Electric Motor control principles and mechanization
• Experience in a laboratory environment
• Exposure to modeling and simulation using MATLAB/Simulink
• Excellent verbal and technical writing skills in English language
• Ability to work collaboratively, and in a self-sufficient manner
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Docs

Desired

• Minimum 5 years of Aerospace industry experience in Propulsion system
• Electric vehicle technology experience
• Experience integrating and testing complex, highly integrated systems, including failure modes and effects testing (FMET)
• Experience with Propulsion systems development from preliminary design through certification and in-service deployment
• Understand the application of development assurance processes according to SAE ARP4754A
• Familiarization with safety assessment process, methods, and analyses (FHA, FMEA/FMECA, FTA, CCA) used in safety assessments (PSSA, SSA) per SAE ARP4761
• Working knowledge of DO-160G environmental qualification
• Familiarity and experience with FAA Part 23, Part 25, Part 27, and/or Part 29 Certification Regulations
• Use of Requirements Management tools (working knowledge of Siemens Polarion is a plus)
• Experienced in model-based engineering using MATLAB/Simulink
• Experience using Atlassian tools including Jira, Confluence, and Crucible
• Familiar with Dassault Systems Engineering and Management tools (Enovia)

Additional Information

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $108,000 - $144,0 00/yr . The compensation package offered will be determined by location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Joby also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan with a company match, an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.

Joby is an Equal Opportunity Employer.