Joby Aviation

Senior Software Engineer (Backend)

Joby Aviation$141K — $217K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or equivalent practical experience
  • 5+ years of software engineering experience in production systems
  • Advanced experience with Python and scalable applications
  • Strong understanding of Docker and containerized workflows
  • Knowledge of RESTful APIs and maintainable web services
  • Experience with event-driven architecture, ideally using Kafka
  • Proficient in debugging, testing, and production observability

Responsibilities

  • Design and build scalable backend services and APIs for manufacturing workflows
  • Architect event-driven systems and data pipelines that connect internal services
  • Own end-to-end delivery of backend systems from design to deployment
  • Lead technical discussions and mentor engineers to raise the team's capabilities
  • Collaborate across disciplines and time zones to improve operational efficiency
  • Contribute to a modern tech stack in a high-ownership environment

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including healthcare
  • 401(k) plan with company match
  • Paid time off and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
  • Short-term and long-term disability coverage
  • Life insurance
  • Opportunity to impact real-world manufacturing and aviation processes
Full Job Description
Overview

We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer with deep backend systems expertise to help drive the next generation of infrastructure that powers Joby's manufacturing and operations. In this role, you'll design and build scalable, reliable Python services that connect business logic, production data, and hardware systems across a globally distributed organization. You'll partner with product, operations, manufacturing, and hardware teams to identify high-impact technical opportunities, architect solutions that handle real manufacturing complexity, and establish the patterns that let Factory Systems ship production-grade capabilities at scale. This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of software, aviation, and global collaboration—where your code quite literally helps get things off the ground.

Responsibilities
  • Design and build scalable backend services and APIs that power manufacturing workflows, financial systems, and operational tools
  • Architect event-driven systems, integrations, and data pipelines that reliably connect internal services, manufacturing equipment, and operational intelligence
  • Own end-to-end delivery of backend systems: requirements discovery, design, implementation, deployment, monitoring, and iteration
  • Raise the bar for the whole team by leading technical design discussions, mentoring engineers, and establishing the patterns and tooling that let others build reliable services
  • Collaborate across time zones and disciplines—hardware, operations, manufacturing, quality—to deliver outcomes that improve efficiency and clarity.
  • Contribute to a modern tech stack in a fast-moving, high-ownership environment with increasing architectural influence.
Required
  • B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or equivalent practical experience
  • 5+ years of software engineering experience building and operating production systems
  • Advanced, hands-on experience with Python and building scalable applications
  • Strong understanding of Docker and containerized development workflows
  • Strong knowledge of RESTful APIs and designing clean, maintainable web services and system architectures
  • Deep experience with event-driven architecture—ideally using tools like Kafka to build reliable, asynchronous workflows
  • Experience moving prototypes into reliable production systems, with strong debugging, testing, and observability practices
  • Clear communication and a track record of collaborating across disciplines to deliver outcomes
Desired
  • Working proficiency with GitHub-based CI/CD workflows and deployment automation
  • Proficient in databases such as PostgreSQL and/or MongoDB with experience optimizing queries and managing data at scale
  • Experience with GraphQL or other modern API patterns in addition to REST
  • Familiarity with cloud storage platforms and distributed file systems
  • Comfortable working independently in globally distributed teams
  • Background in production or manufacturing settings, or experience building systems that integrate with hardware or real-time data
  • Experience with AI-assisted development workflows and LLM-based tooling
Additional Information

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $141,000 - $217,700/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.

 

About Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation is an aerospace company that is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility. The company's aircraft is designed to be quiet, efficient, and environmentally friendly, and is intended to provide a faster and more convenient mode of transportation for urban commuters. Joby Aviation was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. The company has received funding from a variety of investors, including Toyota and JetBlue Technology Ventures.
Learn more about Joby Aviation
Size
500 employees
Market Cap
$2 billion
Industry
Founded
2009
NASDAQ

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