Engineering Senior Manager Jobs in California

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

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.

Overview:

Joby Aviation is seeking a senior technical leader to oversee our Quality Engineering organization. Reporting to the Head of Quality, you will architect, coordinate, and execute all aspects of quality engineering, preventative quality planning, and continuous improvement across all manufacturing facilities. The Senior Quality Engineering Manager will drive manufacturing controls strategy, nonconformance management, advanced product quality planning (APQP), and organizational development as we scale aircraft production.

This leader will build and develop a high-performing organization of quality engineering managers, quality engineers, and technical leads across the entire manufacturing footprint. You will own the integrity of our quality engineering processes, drive disciplined root-cause engineering to eliminate process escapes, and ensure unyielding compliance with internal standards and FAA regulations.

The ideal candidate possesses a proven track record of technical leadership in complex manufacturing or aviation environments. This role requires close collaboration across Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Production, Manufacturing Engineering, and Design teams to ensure a seamless transition from design to production. The Joby Aviation team operates in a fast-paced, highly rewarding environment driven by high standards and precise execution. We are seeking a dedicated leader to build and sustain a world-class quality culture as we scale production.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Quality Engineering Organization: Manage and scale a multi-site team of Quality Engineering Managers and Engineers, ensuring compliance with internal Quality Management Systems (QMS) and FAA regulations.

• Strategic Architecture: Build scalable organizational structures, operating rhythms, and preventative quality systems to support increasing production volume and manufacturing maturity.

• Design & Manufacturing Integration: Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing Engineering, Design, and Program Management to advise on design reviews, ensuring product manufacturability, inspectability, and conformance to requirements.

• Defect Prevention & APQP: Ensure the implementation of world-class quality engineering systems (e.g., AS9145) to support the entire product life cycle, focusing on the prevention and detection of defects at the earliest possible phase (NPI to production).

• Nonconformance & Root-Cause Engineering: Direct advanced failure investigations and oversee Material Review Board (MRB) actions, ensuring robust root-cause analysis and the implementation of systemic corrective actions to eliminate process escapes.

• Metrics & Analytics: Manage quality engineering metrics using data analytics tools to track, report, and act upon yield performance, defect trends, and process capability.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner heavily with Quality Control to ensure all technical requirements, inspection plans, and quality processes are executed consistently and effectively on the floor.

• Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous improvement and Lean/Six Sigma initiatives that support production readiness and commercial scale.

• Compliance: Responsible for performing job duties in a manner consistent with established Joby Policies and Procedures.

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, technology, aviation management, or a related field plus a minimum of 10 years' experience in Quality Engineering or a related technical field. In lieu of college degree, a minimum of 15 years experience in a quality engineering or related technical field.

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing technical teams or leading large, multi-site operational organizations.

• Deep understanding of manufacturing controls, design controls, APQP, and complex nonconformance management.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to maintain technical standards and collaborate under production timelines.

DESIRED:

• Master's degree preferred.

• Six Sigma Black Belt or advanced Lean Manufacturing certification.

• Advanced knowledge of core quality tools and root-cause analysis methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, 8D, Fishbone, PFMEA, Control Plans).

• Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO9001, and FAA 14 CFR Part 21 regulations.

COMPENSATION:

• Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $170,500 - $267,400 per year. 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.