Senior/staff Rf Systems Engineer

Joby Aviation Joby Aviation · Robotics · Santa Cruz, CA · Powertrain & Electronics

Joby Aviation is seeking a Senior/Staff RF Systems Engineer to join their radio team. This role involves analyzing and improving radio systems performance for both traditional avionics and flight test telemetry systems. Responsibilities include designing, implementing, testing, and validating RF/antenna systems, ensuring coexistence of critical radio systems, analyzing flight test data using tools like Grafana and Databricks, performing antenna engineering with Ansys HFSS, and troubleshooting hardware. The role requires hands-on involvement, including testing at remote sites, and mentorship of team members. A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience with 8+ years in RF/radio systems is required, along with team lead/manager/mentor experience. Experience with various communication systems (UHF, microwave, SatCom, LTE, VHF, GNSS, ILS, Radar Altimeter) and antenna design is crucial.

What you'd actually do

  1. Utilize detailed understanding of RF/antenna systems including UHF command and control, microwave telemetry, SatCom, cellular LTE networks and radio equipment operation to design, implement, integrate, test and validate performance of the radio systems on our eVTOL aircraft
  2. Use source/victim testing and other methods to assure the coexistence of all flight critical radio systems onboard the eVTOL aircraft
  3. Utilize advanced data analysis tools such as Grafana, Databricks and Unfolded to examine flight test data for anomalies, patterns, and potentially flight blocking issues
  4. Resolve impairments and performance issues that occur during integration, bench test, and flight test
  5. Perform computer aided antenna engineering and system design using Ansys HFSS (or equivalent)

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
  • 8+ years of experience developing and/or deploying RF and radio systems
  • Experience as a team lead, manager, or mentor of engineers
  • Understanding of communications systems, associated SW algorithms and their design, including C2 source selection, signal modulation/demodulation and error correction, RF signal acquisition, RF gain control (AGC), and antenna performance.
  • Operational understanding of VHF com radios, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR), ILS (LOC + GS), Radar Altimeter
  • US Citizen or Permanent US Resident

Nice to have

  • Master's degree in Electrical Engineering
  • 10+ years of experience developing and/or deploying RF and radio systems
  • Experience managing a team in self-directed engineering projects

What the JD emphasized

  • collaboration with software, hardware, and system engineers
  • hands-on and in-person position
  • desk-based forward thinking strategy with real time on-site engineering, technical execution, test and documentation
  • Integration and optimized application of COTS or vendor-supplied equipment is the primary task, not building new devices
  • Willingness to roll up your sleeves and get involved with testing, building, and fixing is essential
  • Hands-on, in-person involvement at remotely located test sites, up to one week per month
  • Provide mentorship to team members and support their career growth and development
  • 8+ years of experience developing and/or deploying RF and radio systems
  • Experience as a team lead, manager, or mentor of engineers
  • Understanding of communications systems, associated SW algorithms and their design, including C2 source selection, signal modulation/demodulation and error correction, RF signal acquisition, RF gain control (AGC), and antenna performance.
  • Operational understanding of VHF com radios, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR), ILS (LOC + GS), Radar Altimeter