This is a hands-on leadership role: you'll mentor a lean, high-performing team and make strategic trade-offs, while partnering closely with the Flight Test Lead, Chief Test Pilot, Operations Manager, FTE Leads, the Systems Technical Program Managers, the PMO, and design engineering, safety, and certification stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Own the long-range program strategy for the flight test fleet through the development & certification phase of the program
Set the Integrated Master Schedule strategy across all flight test aircraft and assets, in close partnership with the PMO's master scheduling function, ensuring campaign timelines and dependencies are aligned fleet-wide and reflected in company-level program plans
Lead periodic (weekly/monthly) synthesis of fleet-level risk and prioritization at the OEM level, focused on systemic and cross-program issues and recommend mitigation strategies
Deliver concise executive-level technical risk and schedule briefings to leadership and the PMO.
Own strategic planning for all flight test operations
Define and optimize the long-term critical path for flight test contribution to company milestones
Set dispatch priorities and deployment strategy — including complex test deployments and the external test site footprint (hangar facilities, airspace coordination, remote-site support)
Represent Flight Test in the definition of company-wide fleet allocation and utilization strategy
Drive test campaigns from requirements definition through execution
Serve as the primary flight test liaison to the PMO, ensuring flight test schedule, risk, and resource plans are integrated into overall vehicle program plans and reporting
Serve as a key interface between Flight Test Engineering and design engineering, safety, and airworthiness/certification teams, ensuring test objectives are traceable to program and FAA certification requirements
Represent the flight test technical strategy in program-level leadership reviews with the PMO
Foster a healthy, execution-focused culture where junior team members are supported through both high-impact and routine, safety-critical certification work
Required
Bachelor’s or higher in Aerospace Engineering or a related technical field
8+ years of experience in development or certification flight test, ideally with a balance of large-OEM and startup or fast-paced R&D aerospace development environments
Deep understanding of flight test operations, experimental aircraft programs, and certification pathways (Part 23/27/25)
Demonstrated experience establishing long-range flight test schedules, and flight test fleet resource strategy
Direct experience owning a flight test program's Integrated Master Schedule strategy
Experience partnering with a Program Management Office and cross-functional Technical Program Managers
Strong leadership, people management and communication skills, with the ability to lead both senior engineers and junior talent
Proven ability to distill complex technical and operational problems into clear executive-level decisions and strategic guidance
Comfortable operating with ambiguity in a fast-paced, iterative development environment
Desired
Experience with international deployments or global fleet operations
Familiarity with test readiness reviews, hardware/software-in-the-loop environments, and program or fleet management tools and professional practices
Experience coordinating directly with the FAA and/or designated engineering representatives (DERs) on certification and TIA activities
Engineering degree, senior program management experience, and a pilot or maintenance background are strongly preferred
Additional Information
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $149,900 - $206,100/yr. The compensation package will be determined by 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
