Joby Aviation is building the future of electric flight, and we need a hands-on Manufacturing Engineering Lead to ramp our Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU) Inverter to high-rate production and launch the next-gen Inverter. Based in San Carlos, CA, you'll own the line: standing up equipment, locking in processes, and scaling power electronics manufacturing alongside our Powertrain & Electronics ME team.
This is a builder's role for an engineer who lives in the details — someone with deep mechanical and electrical fundamentals, real shop-floor instincts, and the pragmatism to make hard calls under aggressive timelines. You'll be on the floor with technicians one hour and solving hard problems alongside senior leaders the next. Decisions move fast here, and the work you do will show up in aircraft that fly.
Responsibilities- Own EPU Inverter manufacturing end-to-end — in-house assembly and test, plus scale-up with manufacturing partners; serve as the technical authority on how this product gets built
- Drive equipment projects with internal teams and external suppliers (specs, builds, buy-offs, and installs) to deliver production-intent tooling on schedule
- Ramp line capacity to hit rate and program milestones by debottlenecking, balancing stations, and proving out throughput
- Build the processes that make a fast team faster, establishing clear interfaces with design, quality, and supply chain without bureaucracy
- Report line readiness to leadership utilizing clean, data-driven frameworks
- Mentor your direct team and influence efficiency across the broader organization by leading by example and raising the performance bar
- Partner with Design on DFM and ECRs, with Quality on first-pass yield and defect reduction, and with the Equipment team on readiness milestones
- Set clear deliverables, dates, and owners for the manufacturing team while holding accountability boundaries
- Own the tooling and equipment budget by building, pressure-testing, and tracking spend against capability and rate
- Launch the next-gen Inverter using the best proven manufacturing technologies and methods available to put a novel power electronics platform into the air
- BS in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field coupled with 10+ years of experience (ideally including hands-on shop floor environments)
- Proven track record launching multiple products from early concept (bench-top prototype) through pilot line and high-rate production as a technical or manufacturing lead
- Deep process development and validation experience including PFMEA, control plans, and capability studies
- Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals rooted in first principles including GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, fastening, and fits
- Direct experience with power electronics, electric motor assembly, or complex electro-mechanical assembly, including associated tooling, fixturing, and test equipment
- Strong cross-functional problem-solving instincts focused transparently on root-cause resolution
- Genuine appetite for data-driven, floor-level technical details rather than passive status meetings
- Experience leading engineering teams by hiring, coaching, and maximizing the outputs of strong individual contributors
- Prior experience operating within highly regulated industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, or Medical Devices
- Familiarity with FAA Part 21 production approvals or AS9100 quality systems
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $141,900 - $195,200/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.
Additional InformationJoby Aviation is an equal opportunity employer.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of relevant engineering experience, ideally including hands-on shop-floor environments
- Experience launching multiple products from bench-top prototype through pilot line and high-rate production as a technical or manufacturing lead
- Deep process development and validation experience, including PFMEA, control plans, and capability studies
- Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, fastening, and fits
- Direct experience with power electronics, electric motor assembly, or complex electro-mechanical assembly
- Experience with associated tooling, fixturing, and test equipment
- Strong cross-functional problem-solving skills focused on transparent root-cause resolution
- Preference for data-driven, floor-level technical work
- Experience leading engineering teams through hiring, coaching, and maximizing individual contributor output
- Experience in highly regulated industries such as aerospace, automotive, or medical devices
- Familiarity with FAA Part 21 production approvals or AS9100 quality systems
Joby Aviation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Joby Aviation and has not been reviewed or approved by Joby Aviation.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing perks are positioned as a meaningful part of the total package, including free daily meals and access to an on-site gym. These amenities are portrayed as reducing day-to-day costs and friction, making the overall rewards feel richer for some roles and sites.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is described as comprehensive, including a 401(k) plan with a company match. Ownership-oriented savings options like an ESPP are also included alongside retirement benefits.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity participation is a prominent component of total rewards through RSUs and an ESPP, making upside potential a core part of compensation design. This structure is framed as especially attractive when equity is valued as part of overall pay competitiveness.
Joby Aviation Insights
What We Do
Joby is a California-based company building quiet, all-electric aircraft to connect people like never before. With up to 150 miles of range and the ability to take off and land vertically, the Joby aircraft will change the way we move while reducing the acoustic and climate footprint of flight.
