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Salary: USD 191,400 - 300,000 / annual
Joby Flight Research is seeking an Autonomous Aircraft Systems Engineering Manager to lead a team of systems engineers supporting autonomous aircraft development programs. This role sits at the intersection of aerospace systems engineering and autonomy, requiring end-to-end ownership of complex system design, integration, and validation.
You will manage systems engineers and provide technical guidance across autonomous aircraft systems from concept through system-level verification and validation. Key responsibilities include:
• Requirements Management: Derive, allocate, and track technical requirements from mission objectives down to individual subsystems; develop interface control documents (ICDs).
• System Architecture: Define overall system layout, develop concepts of operations (ConOps), evaluate feasibility, and conduct trade studies to influence performance; ensure coordinated, balanced subsystem integration.
• Verification & Validation: Execute V&V strategy across all systems, define and execute test plans, identify test cases, and collect verification data to satisfy requirements.
• Risk Management: Identify technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and execute plans to reduce target risks.
• Technical Leadership: Lead technical trade studies and functional analyses, define milestone success criteria, support design reviews, and develop/own the systems engineering process on flight programs.
• Personnel Management: Provide mentorship and technical direction to systems engineering team members.
A critical aspect of this role is supporting supplemental type certifications (STCs) for electrical, mechanical, and software changes to enable autonomous flight in the national airspace. This requires solid understanding of aircraft systems, system development, and industry-specific standards and processes.
Joby operates in a fast-paced environment where forward thinking, adaptability, positive attitude, strong work ethic, and self-management are essential.
REQUIREMENTS:
• BS in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of systems engineering experience developing safety-critical vehicles, preferably in aerospace and/or autonomy
• Thorough understanding of systems engineering concepts and methods
• Excellent interpersonal skills to communicate effectively across technical disciplines
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment
DESIRED:
• MS/PhD in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or related field
• Experience in digital flight control or fly-by-wire systems
• Familiarity with aerospace development standards (ARP4754, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160G, NPR 7123.1, NASA Systems Engineering Handbook)
• Experience with MBSE and requirements management tools (Flow, Jama, Polarion, Cameo/MagicDraw)
• Clean-sheet aerospace development experience
