Flight Test Operations Program Manager
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 6, 2026. First seen by Alion on Nov 6, 2026. Joby Aviation scores A on the Alion truth index.
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
Flight test is where Joby's aircraft meets the data certification requirements. As Flight Test Operations Program Manager, you will own the execution layer of that effort: turning the long-range test strategy into a daily, weekly, and campaign-level plan that keeps the flight test fleet flying safely, productively, and on schedule.
You will work in the hangar and on the flight line as much as in the program office. You will partner daily with the Flight Test Lead, Chief Test Pilot, Flight Test Engineering leads, Flight Test Maintenance, Flight Test Safety, and the Systems Technical Program Managers. You will also work with the PMO, design engineering, and certification teams to ensure test events are ready, traceable to FAA requirements, and supported by the right aircraft configuration, personnel, and range resources.
Responsibilities
Plan and run flight test campaigns
- Build and maintain the near- and mid-term flight test schedule, tied to the program Integrated Master Schedule, covering aircraft availability, test point priorities, crew, range and airspace, and ground resources
- Translate certification and development objectives into executable campaigns with clear entry criteria, resourcing, and success measures
- Drive the operational tempo: daily flight planning, pre-flight briefs, post-flight debriefs, and rapid turnaround of issues between flights
- Make and communicate prioritization trade-offs when aircraft, weather, crew, or range availability change
Keep the fleet ready to fly
- Work with Flight Test Maintenance, Flight Test Support engineering, and Instrumentation teams to align aircraft configuration, modifications, and instrumentation with the test plan
- Track squawks, engineering dispositions, and design-change incorporation so the right fixes land on the right aircraft before the right test event
- Manage readiness across the fleet, including conforming and non-conforming configurations, and flag configuration risks early
Integrate safety into every test
- Partner with the Flight Test Safety team to ensure hazard analyses, risk assessments, and readiness reviews are complete before each test phase
- Enforce go/no-go criteria and support the Flight Test Safety Committee, incident reporting, root-cause investigation, and corrective-action closure
- Reinforce a culture where anyone can stop a test
Support certification and regulatory interface
- Ensure test objectives are traceable to FAA certification requirements and that test events are conducted to approved plans, procedures, and conformity requirements
- Coordinate with certification and airworthiness teams on FAA witnessing, data submittals, and test authorization milestones
Connect flight test to the broader program
- Serve as the operational link between flight test and the PMO, ensuring execution status, risks, and resource needs are accurately reflected in program reporting
- Work with the Senior Flight Test Technical Program Manager and Systems TPMs to keep operational plans aligned with long-range strategy
- Support domestic and international demonstration events and the flight test teams that run them
Measure and improve
- Track and report KPIs: flight hours, test point completion, aircraft availability, turnaround time, schedule adherence, and cost
- Run retrospectives and continuously improve processes, tools, and handoffs as the test fleet and tempo grow
- Mentor and coordinate a lean, high-performing team of coordinators and operations staff
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or a related engineering field (or equivalent practical experience)
- 7+ years of professional experience in flight test, aircraft development, or flight operations (specifically including 3+ years in the program or project management of flight test activities)
- Direct experience planning and executing flight test campaigns on experimental or developmental aircraft
- Working knowledge of flight test safety practices (hazard analysis, risk assessment, and readiness reviews) and SMS principles
- Understanding of FAA certification pathways (14 CFR Part 21 and Part 23/27/25, or powered-lift special class) and how test activities support them
- Proven ability to build and manage detailed schedules and resource plans in a fast-moving environment
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to align pilots, engineers, technicians, and executives under schedule pressure
- Willingness to work flexible hours (early mornings, weekends) and travel to remote test sites
Desired
- Experience with eVTOL, electric propulsion, fly-by-wire, or other novel aircraft architectures
- Background as a flight test engineer, test conductor, test pilot, or flight test operations lead
- Experience with Integrated Master Schedule ownership and PMO-level reporting
- Familiarity with test range operations, telemetry, and real-time data monitoring
- Proficiency with modern scheduling and tracking tools (such as Jira or Smartsheet)
- PMP or equivalent project management certification
Additional Information
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $121,500 - $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