Senior Airframe Assembly Manufacturing Engineer

Joby Aviation Joby Aviation · Robotics · Marina, CA · Manufacturing

Senior Manufacturing Engineer for airframe assembly at Joby Aviation, focusing on scaling production from several aircraft per year to hundreds. This role involves developing and implementing processes, tools, and technologies to accelerate assembly rates, collaborating with design and tooling teams, and ensuring manufacturability. The position requires strong project management, problem-solving skills, and experience in prototype and production manufacturing, with a desire to innovate beyond traditional aerospace methods.

What you'd actually do

  1. Make key contributions to the development of Joby's high-output production system to produce aircraft at rates that have not yet been achieved in the aerospace industry.
  2. Seek out and implement new manufacturing technologies and methods capable of dramatically accelerating assembly production rates.
  3. Collaborate with the tooling team to develop efficient and effective assembly tools oriented toward high-volume production.
  4. Work closely with the Design and Stress teams to ensure that manufacturability guides all facets of the airframe design.
  5. Author clear, explicit, and easy-to-follow manufacturing work instructions.

Skills

Required

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a similar field.
  • 5+ years of relevant work experience.
  • Experience with mechanical design, as well as fixture and assembly tooling design.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Strong project management experience.
  • Experience conducting PFMEAs and writing manufacturing work instructions.
  • Ability to interpret mechanical drawings of piece-parts and assemblies, including GD&T.
  • Proven ability to provide impactful technical feedback on new designs to improve manufacturability (DFM).
  • Experience in prototype and production manufacturing.
  • Proficiency in CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar CAD software.
  • Excellent problem-solving and teamwork skills while working with cross-functional teams.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced engineering environment and quickly adapt to changing inputs, requirements, and direction.
  • Hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment

Nice to have

  • Strong experience with composites manufacturing (lamination, bonding, drilling, and fastening).
  • Experience with automated or robotic manufacturing systems.
  • Familiarity with aerospace manufacturing, processing, and materials.
  • Experience developing factory layouts and workstations.
  • Experience with Lean manufacturing methods and time study analysis.

What the JD emphasized

  • scale from several aircraft per year to hundreds of aircraft per year
  • high-volume production
  • accelerating assembly production rates
  • high-volume production
  • manufacturability guides all facets of the airframe design
  • manufacturing work instructions
  • resolve technical challenges
  • factory layouts for future airframe production facilities
  • First Article Inspections (FAI)
  • assembly fixture qualifications
  • PFMEAs
  • Define assembly sequences and workflows
  • Own the implementation of assembly tools and equipment
  • first-time builds
  • factory bring-up
  • Mentor junior members
  • Manage schedules for initial builds
  • identify schedule risks
  • reduce timelines
  • composite manufacturing and assembly operations
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a similar field.
  • 5+ years of relevant work experience.
  • Experience with mechanical design, as well as fixture and assembly tooling design.
  • Experience conducting PFMEAs and writing manufacturing work instructions.
  • Ability to interpret mechanical drawings of piece-parts and assemblies, including GD&T.
  • Proven ability to provide impactful technical feedback on new designs to improve manufacturability (DFM).
  • Experience in prototype and production manufacturing.
  • Proficiency in CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar CAD software.
  • Hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment
  • Strong experience with composites manufacturing (lamination, bonding, drilling, and fastening).
  • Experience with automated or robotic manufacturing systems.
  • Experience developing factory layouts and workstations.
  • Experience with Lean manufacturing methods and time study analysis.