Flight Research Staff Integrated Systems Test Engineer

Santa Cruz, California, United StatesSenior$186,200 - $297,300

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

Joby’s Flight Research group is seeking a highly capable Integrated Systems Test Lead to own system-level verification for new aircraft programs. This role sits at the intersection of simulation, embedded software, and hardware, and is responsible for building and operating a high-fidelity integration and verification platform that forms the backbone of system-level test infrastructure.

You will define and implement the test strategy, infrastructure, and automation pipelines required to ensure system-level correctness and robustness. This role is critical to enabling fast iteration while maintaining high confidence in flight-critical systems.

Responsibilities

Own the architecture, bring-up, and operation of integrated test platforms for new vehicle programs.
Define and execute system-level test strategy across SIL, HIL, and integrated hardware environments.
Build scalable automated test frameworks and pipelines to validate embedded and avionics systems.
Develop infrastructure for continuous integration, regression testing, and system verification.
Drive integration and debugging across simulation, embedded software, and hardware systems.
Interface with GNC, Flight Software, Hardware, and Flight Test to ensure seamless end-to-end system integration and performance.
Lead root-cause analysis of system-level issues.
Provide technical leadership and direction to a small, high-output and cross-disciplinary team.
Define and implement requirements-based testing and traceability to ensure clear linkage between system requirements, test coverage, and validation line items.

Required

Strong experience in system integration and verification across software and hardware boundaries.
Background in simulation, embedded systems, robotics, or complex real-time systems.
Experience building automated test frameworks (HITL/SITL, CI/CD pipelines, regression systems).
Proficiency in C++, Python, and modern development workflows.
Experience debugging complex, multi-domain systems (timing, interfaces, hardware/software interactions).
Proven ability to deliver high-quality systems in fast-paced, hardware-integrated environments.

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

Experience owning or developing integrated test rigs.
Experience with simulation of complex integrated systems (aerospace, robotics, autonomy).
Experience with real-time Linux and embedded compute platforms.
Familiarity with Bazel build system and large-scale, multi-language monorepositories.
Strong developer-experience focus and streamlined developer workflows.

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $186,200 - $297,300/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.