Aircraft Technical Publications Manager

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

Joby Aviation is seeking an experienced manager to lead our Aircraft Technical Publications (ATP) function, owning the full suite of technical documentation that keeps our aircraft safe, maintainable, and compliant across both certification and in-service operations. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will manage and mentor a team of technical writers and illustrators while remaining directly involved in authoring, reviewing, and producing high-quality content. Working at the intersection of engineering, flight operations, maintenance, and regulatory compliance, you will modernize our S1000D publishing infrastructure, incorporate responsible AI tooling, and deliver structured manual suites supporting FAA, EASA, and global certification milestones.

Responsibilities

Lead, supervise, and mentor a team of technical writers and illustrators, while remaining hands-on in authoring and producing content as a player and coach

Oversee the creation, revision, and distribution of all aircraft technical publications (manuals such as Aircraft Maintenance Manuals, Aircraft Flight Manuals, service bulletins etc) for eIPP, certification and commercial service. Leaders at Joby do as well as lead, so you are expected to also directly author, review and produce content alongside your team

Ensure all documentation is technically accurate and verified against engineering data and subject matter expert input

Enforce adherence to industry specifications (e.g., S1000D, ATA iSpec 2200) and regulatory requirements (e.g., FAA, EASA)

Develop and maintain departmental standards, workflows, and tooling to improve efficiency and documentation quality

Serve as the primary liaison between the publications team, engineering, flight operations, maintenance, and regulatory agencies (FAA).

Manage revision control, configuration, and traceability so that published data stays aligned with the current aircraft configuration

Own the S1000D authoring and Common Source Database (CSDB) environment and the publication release processes, driving structured, repeatable, and auditable publishing from source data through release

Establish and run an incremental delivery cadence, such as weekly procedure drops as Temporary Revisions with periodic full incorporation into major revisions, to meet fast-moving program needs

Manage Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) obligations and serve as the publications interface with the FAA and international authorities such as the GCAA, including regulator-facing document portals and delivery mechanisms

Champion the responsible adoption of AI and automation tools to improve documentation quality, consistency, and throughput, validating outputs for accuracy and determinism before operational use

Prioritize and re-sequence the publications backlog in line with shifting program needs (e.g., prioritizing flight test maintenance support), balancing certification, in-service, and program demands

Manage the department budget, staffing, and outsourcing decisions to deliver the publications roadmap efficiently

Plan and prioritize the publications roadmap against program milestones, certification deliverables, and in-service needs

Required

Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline

5+ years of experience in aircraft/aerospace technical publications, including hands-on authoring of maintenance and technical data

1+ years of leadership experience

Demonstrated working knowledge of technical documentation standards such as S1000D and ATA iSpec 2200, including experience with Common Source Database (CSDB) publishing environments

Familiarity with FAA and/or EASA/GCAA regulatory requirements for aircraft technical data

Proven ability to translate complex engineering data into clear, accurate, and usable documentation

Excellent organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with strong attention to detail

Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with frequently changing priorities

Ability to work on-site up to 5 days a week across our Marina, Santa Cruz, and San Carlos locations as needed

Desired

A master's degree in a technical, engineering, or communications discipline

Experience with direct FAA interactions

Experience supporting both certification and in-service (e.g., Part 135/121) publications

Experience in an eVTOL, electric aircraft, or advanced aerospace development environment

Experience with technical publishing tools, XML/CSDB authoring environments, and illustration software

Experience applying AI or automation tools to technical documentation workflows, with an emphasis on accuracy and repeatability

Experience running incremental or rolling documentation delivery models (e.g., Temporary Revisions with scheduled incorporation)

Experience establishing or scaling a technical publications function and its standards

Additional Information

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $136,100 - $187,200/yr. The compensation package offered will be determined by location, 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.