Job Locations US-CA-Santa Cruz

ID

2026-4659

Category

R&D Machine Shop

Type

Regular Full-Time

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.

We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to support our R&D-focused machine shop, weld shop, and waterjet shop, which delivers rapid-turn metal parts for prototype aircraft, flight hardware, test hardware, tooling, and specialized equipment.

This role works directly with internal engineering teams and shop personnel to translate incomplete or evolving engineering definitions into manufacturable designs. The Manufacturing Engineer will play a critical role in ensuring urgent requests can be executed quickly, correctly, and efficiently — while also helping upstream teams improve the manufacturability of future designs.

This is a hands-on, high-ownership role that requires strong mechanical design fundamentals, deep machining knowledge, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced R&D environment.

• Partner directly with engineering teams to review incoming part requests and identify gaps in definition, manufacturability, or detail.
  
• Modify and refine designs as needed to ensure they are manufacturable within available shop capabilities, while preserving functional intent.
  
• Capture design changes, added detail, and clarifications in formal drawing updates in accordance with drawing standards.
  
• Apply strong mechanical design judgment to tolerancing, fits, interfaces, and functional requirements.
  
• Provide design-for-manufacturability (DFM) guidance and coaching to requesting teams to improve future submissions.
  
• Support machining, welding, and waterjet operations by preparing manufacturing documentation such as:
  
  • Clamping and setup sketches
    
  • Tool lists and process notes
    
  • Workholding concepts and instructions
    
• Design clamping fixtures, jigs, and manufacturing aids to enable safe, repeatable, and efficient fabrication.
  
• Support CAM programming as needed and collaborate closely with machinists to optimize processes.
  
• Act as a technical bridge between design engineering and the shop floor to resolve issues quickly and keep work moving.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
  
• 5+ years of professional experience supporting machining operations in a manufacturing or R&D environment.
  
• Strong understanding of:
  
  • Mechanical design fundamentals (fits, tolerances, GD&T, functional interfaces)
    
  • Machining processes (CNC milling, turning, manual machining)
    
  • Design for manufacturability (DFM)
    
  • Drawing standards and engineering documentation
    
• Experience with CAD systems (CATIA preferred, but not required).
  
• Experience with CAM programming, ideally using Fusion 360.
  
• Working knowledge of welding and waterjet manufacturing processes.
  
• Solid understanding of metallic materials and their properties.
  
• Ability to work independently, make sound engineering decisions, and operate effectively under schedule pressure.

• Experience supporting prototype, low-volume, or high-mix manufacturing.
  
• Direct shop-floor experience as a machinist or manufacturing engineer.
  
• Experience designing custom fixtures and workholding solutions.
  
• Familiarity with aerospace hardware, flight hardware, or test hardware development.

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