Senior/staff Test Engineer (energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

Joby Aviation Joby Aviation · Robotics · San Carlos, CA · Testing

Joby Aviation is seeking a Senior/Staff Test Engineer to join their Testing team, focusing on Energy Storage and Distribution Systems for VTOL electric aircraft. The role involves performing various performance, reliability, and environmental tests on flight-critical components, aiding in lab integration, analyzing test data, and developing FAA Certification test plans. The position requires a Bachelor's Degree in a relevant discipline, experience with high-voltage systems, and strong data handling skills.

What you'd actually do

  1. Collaborate with the battery design engineering team and other test engineers to perform various Energy Storage and Distribution System (ESDS) performance, reliability, and environmental testing. This includes power/thermal and humidity cycling, vibration & shock, accelerated life testing, and more.
  2. Aid in the integration and maintenance of various ESDS labs including a complete aircraft representative battery lab, as well as various power distribution, power conversion, and battery thermal management subsystem labs.
  3. Perform characterization, qualification, & reliability tests on components of the battery pack (includes contactors, special-connectors, fuses, PCBs).
  4. Organize and maintain the battery test area and equipment while strictly adhering to best practices, proper documentation and safety awareness.
  5. Perform acceptance tests on aircraft representative battery packs and prepare Safety-of-Flight documents.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical or other relevant discipline with experience working on Battery Packs
  • Experience working with high-voltage, high power systems
  • Experience with high voltage electric vehicle power electronics systems
  • Experience with environmental stress testing including thermal and humidity cycling, vibration, electromagnetic interference etc
  • Basic domain knowledge including battery monitoring techniques, cell and pack failure modes and failure mitigation, high voltage safety
  • Strong data handling, processing, and presentation skills
  • Positive attitude and willingness to work individually and as part of a team
  • Excellent problem-solving techniques and analytical ability.
  • Maintains a clean work-space and inventory of tools and equipment

Nice to have

  • Experience with Battery Management Systems hardware is a plus
  • Experience testing hardware to DO-160, DO-311A, SAE, MIL-810 or similar standards
  • Familiarity with battery pack cycle test equipment.
  • Experienced with high voltage Lithium-ion battery systems.
  • Experience with instrumentation (e.g. contactors, current/voltage sensors, thermocouples, accelerometers, strain gauges) and data acquisition.

What the JD emphasized

  • flight-critical components
  • FAA Certification
  • high-voltage
  • high power systems
  • high voltage electric vehicle power electronics systems
  • high voltage Lithium-ion battery systems