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. At Joby, we've been working to make that dream a reality since 2009 and we're now in the final stages of certifying our aircraft with the FAA. With plans to launch our aircraft in the US and Dubai, we're now scaling manufacturing and preparing for the launch of our commercial service.
OverviewJoby Aviation is seeking an experienced staff level Fatigue & Damage Tolerance (F&DT) engineer who believes in the ability of urban air mobility to positively impact our cities. This role is an exciting position within the structures engineering team, as it allows for the engineer to interface with many disciplines within the company and assume a major role in the design of the aircraft. Prototypes are designed quickly and efficiently, meaning attention to detail is critical. This team member will have extensive experience leading fatigue and damage tolerance efforts through aircraft development and certification programs and will serve as a subject matter expert for structural durability and airworthiness.
Responsibilities- Lead fatigue and damage tolerance substantiation of aircraft primary structures
- Develop fatigue and damage tolerance methodologies, certification strategies, and compliance approaches for aircraft certification programs
- Perform fatigue life assessments using analytical and numerical methods
- Conduct crack initiation, crack growth, and residual strength analyses using fracture mechanics principles and industry-standard tools such as NASGRO
- Support structural design development by identifying fatigue-critical features and recommending design improvements
- Develop structural fatigue and durability test programs, including coupon, element, subcomponent, and full-scale test strategies
- Author fatigue and damage tolerance test plans, reports, and certification documentation
- Define inspection intervals, structural maintenance requirements, and continued airworthiness programs based on damage tolerance assessments
- B.S in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or another related discipline
- 8+ years of working experience in aerospace industry with significant emphasis on fatigue and damage tolerance
- Demonstrated experience performing fatigue and damage tolerance substantiation of primary aircraft structures
- Strong knowledge of fatigue, fracture mechanics, and damage tolerance methodologies
- Experience performing crack growth analyses using NASGRO or equivalent fracture mechanics software
- Experience developing fatigue substantiation strategies, certification plans, and compliance documentation for aircraft certification programs
- Experience developing and executing structural durability and fatigue test programs, including authoring test plans, test reports, and analysis reports
- Experience developing structural inspection programs and continued airworthiness requirements
- Experience developing mission spectra and fatigue load spectra for structural durability and damage tolerance assessments
- Experience supporting full-scale fatigue test campaigns and certification activities
- Working knowledge of FAA Part 23 and/or Part 27 airworthiness requirements and associated guidance material
- Ability to work onsite in Santa Cruz, CA
- M.S. or Ph.D. in relevant discipline
- 12+ years of working experience in aerospace industry
- Experience with both metallic and composite airframe structures
- Experience supporting rotorcraft, or other highly fatigue-critical aerospace structures
- Familiarity with military and commercial fatigue and damage tolerance standards
- Experience leading fatigue and damage tolerance activities through a complete aircraft certification program
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $185,300 - $254,800/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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline
- 8+ years of aerospace industry experience with significant emphasis on fatigue and damage tolerance
- Experience performing fatigue and damage tolerance substantiation of primary aircraft structures
- Strong knowledge of fatigue, fracture mechanics, and damage tolerance methodologies
- Experience performing crack-growth analyses using NASGRO or equivalent fracture mechanics software
- Experience developing fatigue substantiation strategies, certification plans, and compliance documentation for aircraft certification programs
- Experience developing and executing structural durability and fatigue test programs, including test plans, test reports, and analysis reports
- Experience developing structural inspection programs and continued airworthiness requirements
- Experience developing mission spectra and fatigue load spectra for structural durability and damage tolerance assessments
- Experience supporting full-scale fatigue test campaigns and certification activities
- Working knowledge of FAA Part 23 and/or Part 27 airworthiness requirements and associated guidance material
- Ability to work onsite in Santa Cruz, California
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant discipline
- 12+ years of aerospace industry experience
- Experience with both metallic and composite airframe structures
- Experience supporting rotorcraft or other highly fatigue-critical aerospace structures
- Familiarity with military and commercial fatigue and damage tolerance standards
- Experience leading fatigue and damage tolerance activities through a complete aircraft certification program
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.
