Senior Propulsion Mechanical Engineer

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

As a Mechanical Design Engineer on Joby Aviation's Propulsion Power Electronics team, you will be responsible for the design of world-class power converters. The work environment is dynamic, fast-paced, and challenging. Design engineers drive prototype builds, engineering testing, and product validation. Your day-to-day tasks will involve the design, analysis, and testing of all structural, thermal, environmental, and insulating aspects of converter components and their electrical connections.

Power electronics is a field that pushes the limits of a wide breadth of mechanical engineering disciplines. You will be required to apply core principles of statics and dynamics, fluid dynamics and thermal management, mechanics, and vibration analysis. This work is highly multidisciplinary; you will be expected to know or quickly learn basic electrical and magnetic physics, as well as elementary material science. Strong design skills, a ‘first-principles’ approach to problem-solving, and a profound curiosity to learn and develop are must-haves.

Responsibilities

• Mechanical Design: Modeling and designing components and assemblies using 3D CAD software
• Engineering Analysis: Performing analyses to optimize designs for various factors, including thermal (CFD), structural (FEA), and design for assembly/test (DFA/DFT)
• Electronics Packaging: Solving complex packaging issues related to thermal management, electrical isolation, sealing, interconnection, shock/vibration management, and electromagnetic interference (EMI)
• Prototyping and Testing: Assisting in engineering prototype builds, fabricating components, and designing test jigs and fixtures for validation
• Validation and Troubleshooting: Running validation tests, collecting and analyzing lab data, investigating the root cause of failures, and implementing product improvements
• Collaboration: Cooperating closely with a variety of cross-functional teams, including electrical, manufacturing, controls, external vendors, and test engineers, to take designs from concept to production

Required

• B.S. or higher in mechanical engineering
• 3-5+ years of demonstrated engineering experience - preferably “full-stack” with exposure to test, design, equipment/component selection, hands-on builds, bring-up and troubleshooting
• Proficiency with professional 3D modeling software, preferably with Catia 3D Experience 
• Proficiency in mechanical design, materials selection, kinematics, troubleshooting, and analysis
• Excellent problem solving and communication skills
• Strong analytical background – able to use first principles to drive/inform design

Desired

• M.S. in mechanical engineering
• 8+ years of Aviation or Automotive industry experience
• Experience with finite element simulation tools
• Experience with electric powertrains or other electromechanical systems (power electronics, battery systems, motors/actuators)
• Strong fundamentals in fluid flow, thermals, structures
• Experience with instrumentation selection/procurement and data acquisition
• Electrical enclosure design experience
• Experience taking design(s) through production

Additional Information

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $104,000 - $181,000/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.

Joby is an Equal Opportunity Employer.