Aircraft Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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.

As an Aircraft Technical Project Manager, you are responsible for the planning, scheduling and execution tracking of all work performed on the experimental Flight Test aircraft. As a core part of Joby's Flight Test department, you will use your technical and interpersonal skillset to coordinate complex projects involving the experimental aircraft. The Aircraft Technical Project Manager interfaces directly with the assigned Aircraft Manger, Engineering IPTs, Program Office, Flight Test Operations, Maintenance, Airworthiness and Certification Engineering to lead the technical planning and schedule management effort for the aircraft. The Aircraft Technical Project Manager is central to the aircraft's utilization and is required to optimize the schedule for program objectives and operational availability. The Aircraft TPM plays a critical role managing the aircraft that are being utilized for the purposed of Research & Development and FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA). 

• Establishes and maintains the technical project plan for the experimental aircraft including maintenance, engineering, and conformity activities

• Coordinates with the Flight Test Operations team, Project Flight Test Engineer and Aircraft Manager to establish and manage the plan to ensure aircraft are equipped and configured for specific test campaigns (both developmental and certification)

• Works directly with the Engineering IPTs to construct technical work instructions and Engineering Data Packages making them available for execution

• Collaborates with Airworthiness and Certification Engineering to maintain the certification packages for the aircraft for show compliance test events 

• Manage and optimize the technical schedule for the aircraft by determining dependencies, implementing creative strategy and employing resource management skills  

• Reports technical plans and schedule to the Program Office to ensure alignment on scheduled activities and to provide input to drive company strategy

• Facilitates frequent aircraft status reviews with cross-functional stakeholders to surface schedule risks, resolve conflicts, and re-baseline technical priorities as test campaigns evolve 

• Develops and maintains risk register and contingency plans for the aircraft schedule, identifying critical path items and proposing mitigation strategies to protect test campaign milestones 

• Rapidly reassesses and re-sequences the technical schedule when unplanned discrepancies, or NCRs are discovered, coordinating with Engineering and Maintenance to determine root-cause investigation and corrective action timelines determining their impact on aircraft availability

• Leads schedule recovery planning after unplanned downtime, working to identify the more efficient compliant path back to test readiness

• Identifies and frames key decision points in the aircraft schedule where competing demands require an explicit trade-off, bringing clear options to the Program Office and Flight Test Operations 

• Recommends when a decision should be escalated versus resolved at the working level, based on the magnitude of the trade-off and its potential impact to program objectives

• Works directly with Shipping & Logistics and Aftermarket Support Engineering teams to plan and coordinate both international and domestic transportation of the aircraft

• Bachelor of Science (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or other technical field) degree or equivalent experience and training
• Hands-on experience supporting or managing technical projects, tracking schedules, and coordinating across cross-functional teams

• Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with colleagues across a wide range of technical disciplines

• Exhibits strong technical leadership and ownership

• Proficiency using Project Management tools (eg. MS Project, Smartsheet or equiv.) 

• Must be able to work both independently and on a team be able to work extended hours and travel as required

• Read and speak English proficiently 

• At least 30% travel required 

• Project management experience on an aircraft development program

• Experience supporting or interfacing with flight test campaigns, understanding how test points, test cards, and campaign objectives translate into aircraft configuration and scheduling requirements 

• Experience in aircraft maintenance control, flight test operations, or aircraft configuration management, ideally within an experimental (Part 21) or certification-driven environment. 

• Working knowledge of FAA Part 21 experimental aircraft requirements, airworthiness processes, and type certification basics (means of compliance, conformity inspections, test cards tied to certification objectives) 

• Experience in managing a technical team is highly desired

• Civil aircraft certification experience including use of ARP 4754 processes for requirements and FAA AC 23-8C or AC 27-1B for flight test

• Familiarity with FAA Order 4040.26C

• Familiarity with DO-178C and DO-260

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