Technical Program Manager, Systems Development & Implementation

Santa Cruz, CA eVTOL Full-time $150k to $192k Posted Sep 2, 2026
Apply on Joby Aviation (opens in a new tab) Sourced via careers-jobyaviation.icims.com · Posted 2026-09-02

About this role

Joby Aviation is hiring a Technical Program Manager, Systems Development & Implementation, full-time, on-site in Santa Cruz, CA, in the eVTOL sector.

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 is looking for a Technical Program Manager to take program execution from concept into practical, on-the-ground project delivery. This role sits at the intersection of systems and aircraft interfaces: you will scope work, build and maintain roadmaps, and then personally drive the cross-team execution needed to hit aircraft-level milestones — not just author the plan, but chase it to closure as new information and issues surface.

Responsibilities

Provide dedicated program support to mature ongoing S4 design areas that still carry high technical risk — taking them from early scoping through to readiness for commercial operation

Scope and structure roadmaps for system areas carrying open technical risk, defining the path from current state to inhabited-operation readiness, including early execution learnings

Build risk mitigation plans for each area, sequencing the work needed to retire risk before it becomes a schedule or safety issue

Drive the maturation path end to end: system requirements validation → software/feature development → verification approach and execution, including continuous improvements

Translate system-level roadmaps into integrated program schedules, keeping them tightly synchronized with overall aircraft program and operational milestones

Continuously iterate the plan as new technical information, test results, or issues surface

Pull in the right engineering, verification, and airworthiness stakeholders at the right time to keep cross-team development and verification efforts converging toward aircraft-level outcomes

Required

Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field with 5+ years of relevant experience

Working technical literacy sufficient to understand system requirements, software/verification concepts, and engineering trade-offs to translate them for cross-functional and leadership audiences

Demonstrated experience scoping ambiguous, high-risk technical work into structured plans and actionable execution roadmaps

Proven track record managing schedules, dependencies, and critical paths across multiple engineering teams, including identifying constraints and recommending recovery options when plans slip

Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to build trust across teams and keep cross-functional partners aligned under time pressure

Comfort with ambiguity and a strong bias toward driving execution forward

Desired

Prior experience in flight controls, propulsion, avionics, embedded software, or safety-critical/regulated system development

Experience with verification processes (requirements-based testing, DO-178C/DO-254-style environments, or equivalent)

Familiarity with project/program management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence) and AI-native tools

Experience running structured retrospectives or continuous-improvement processes on technical programs

Experience as an engineer transitioning into program management with demonstrated informal program leadership (e.g., driving cross-team schedules or owning roadmaps)

Additional Information

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $149,500 - $192,000/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.

Description from Joby Aviation's official posting. Always confirm details on the company careers page.

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About Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation

eVTOL air taxi developer with FAA Part 135 certification and Toyota partnership. Santa Cruz, CA.

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Larry Sherwood Jr.

About Larry Sherwood Jr.

Talent Acquisition Leader specializing in mobility, EV, and frontier tech. 1,000+ hires across roles ranging from production technicians to VPs, including 48 hires for the AFEELA U.S. launch at Sony Honda Mobility (98% offer acceptance, $1.5M+ agency savings). SHRM-CP certified. Build recruiting functions from scratch, no agencies.

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Curated by Larry Sherwood Jr. on the free Mobility Jobs board. Pulled nightly from company applicant tracking systems. Apply directly on the source link above to be considered.