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Senior Autonomy Flight Physics Engineer

Joby Aviation

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Santa Cruz, California

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CONTRACTOR

Updated 09/09/2026

Job Description

Job Summary

Company Overview

Joby Flight Research designs, develops, and flight-tests novel aircraft using a software-first autonomy approach. We build and deploy autonomy, perception, planning, and radar systems across conventional, electric, and hydrogen-electric aircraft in both CTOL and VTOL configurations.

Overview

The Flight Research team at Joby is seeking a highly capable flight physics engineer with deep expertise in aerodynamics, propulsion, aircraft design, flight dynamics, performance, and aeroelasticity. This role is a unique opportunity to apply physical models with multiple levels of fidelity to aircraft modeling problems, from simulating novel aircraft configurations to solving challenging dynamics and control problems that have no playbook.

You'll join a small, tightly integrated team responsible for the development of aerodynamic, aeroelastics, and propulsion models used across Joby's autonomy developments, research and development efforts. Ideal candidates are exceptional problem solvers, comfortable operating at the intersection of software, physics, and math, and excited by the opportunity to invent new methods when existing ones fall short.

We value curiosity, initiative, and the ability to work independently while collaborating deeply with adjacent teams in GNC, simulation, aircraft design, and flight software.

Responsibilities

Participate in early aircraft design trade studies, and lead trade studies focused on flight physics domains

Design aerodynamic surfaces and propulsor elements for high performance while meeting aircraft constraints

Design and evaluate flight trajectories subject to control authority limits and performance constraints as part of aircraft trade studies

Generate models of aerodynamic characteristics of both proven and novel aircraft using appropriate physical models (e.g. vortex lattice, integral boundary layer, CFD)

Collaborate with simulation team to distill aerodynamic models into appropriate format for real time simulation

Serve as a subject matter expert in aeropropulsive interaction and thrust-drag accounting

Generate aeroelastic models and participate in the aeroservoelastic evaluation loop with subject matter experts from GNC

Specify necessary ground and flight test experiments and collaborate with technical and production teams to produce test articles and procedures.

Participate in the evaluation of flight test data to perform system identification and validate models.

Required

An advanced degree (PhD/MS/MEng) in a related discipline and 2+ yrs relevant industry experience.

Intuitive grasp of high lift and propulsively coupled aerodynamic flowfields

Fundamental and expert-level understanding of different aerodynamic modeling techniques and approaches, including vortex lattice, nonlinear lifting line, blade element momentum and CFD.

Experience specifying ground or flight test experiments for comparison to flight physics predictions

Expert-level knowledge and experience with aero modeling technique selection based on the requirements of different applications.

Expert-level knowledge of fixed wing aircraft dynamics and application to advanced concept aircraft

Familiarity and proficiency with Python.

Experience with aeroelastic modeling, e.g. ASWING

Working knowledge of aircraft guidance and control

This position must meet US export control compliance requirements, therefore a candidate must qualify as a "US Person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.15. "US Person" includes US Citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees.

Desired

Demonstrated flight vehicle prototyping experience

Experience with a high-performance language (e.g. Fortran or C++)

Surrogate modeling experience

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $164,900 - $225,000/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 Information

Joby Aviation is an equal opportunity employer.

Job and company information not to be copied, shared, scraped, or otherwise disseminated without explicit consent of JSfirm, LLC.