Joby Aviation

Test Engineer - Battery Electronics

Joby Aviation$104K — $183K *
Energy & Utilities
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering or relevant discipline with 5+ years of experience in test engineering for high-voltage electronics or battery systems; or an advanced degree with 3+ years of experience
  • Experience testing high-voltage, high-power electronics in the aerospace or electric vehicle sectors
  • Practical knowledge of high-voltage electrical testing methods and equipment
  • Experience with environmental stress testing of electronics and battery systems
  • Familiarity with battery monitoring techniques and high voltage safety practices
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data handling and presentation

Responsibilities

  • Lead the design and execution of testing plans for high-voltage electronics within ESDS
  • Coordinate with engineering teams to establish testing methodologies and meet performance objectives
  • Develop and maintain custom high-voltage test rigs and ensure compliance with safety standards
  • Perform thorough electrical characterization and reliability testing of HV electronics
  • Analyze test data to provide actionable feedback for optimization and compliance verification
  • Collaborate across teams to verify that electronics meet design requirements and assist in certification reporting
  • Facilitate communication and planning of test activities to ensure alignment with project schedules

Benefits

  • Comprehensive healthcare benefits
  • Paid time off to support work-life balance
  • 401(k) plan with company match for retirement savings
  • Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) for investment opportunities
  • Short-term and long-term disability coverage for added security
  • Life insurance for financial protection
Full Job Description
Overview

Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate, motivated and hands-on Senior Test Engineer on the Energy Storage and Distribution System (ESDS) Test Team to lead characterization, performance, environmental and reliability testing of the high-voltage electronics within the ESDS, including power distribution units, power conversion electronics (DC/DC converters), battery management system (BMS) hardware, contactors, fuses, current/voltage sensing circuits, and related PCBs. This role is a member of the Powertrain & Electronics Testing Team and leads the verification and validation testing activities for flight-critical HV electronics, with specific emphasis on electrical stress and abuse testing, HV insulation and isolation verification, electrical-thermal cycling, and Electromagnetic Effects testing (such as EMI/EMC, HIRF, and lightning-induced transients).

Responsibilities

Test preparation includes:

  • Test engineering: Identify test objective(s), collaborate with electrical design engineers and system engineers to devise test matrices, instrumentation and measurement needs (voltage/current sensing, isolation monitoring, high-speed transient capture), and outline detailed test procedures such that results are repeatable and consistent
  • Test article: Coordinate appropriate and configuration-controlled HV electronics test articles, power distribution and conversion hardware, BMS boards, contactors, fuses, special connectors, and PCBs, to meet test objective(s)
  • Test equipment: Work closely with Test Equipment Design Engineers to have custom HV test rigs, battery emulators/cyclers, and programmable load setups built, assembled, operated, and maintained; define electrical requirements and expectations of the test stand/test setup, including HV interlocks, isolation barriers, and grounding/bonding schemes
  • Lab integration: Aid in the integration and maintenance of various ESDS labs, including a complete aircraft representative battery lab and power distribution, power conversion, and BMS electronics labs, while strictly adhering to HV safety best practices, proper documentation, and safety awareness

Test execution includes:

  • Perform electrical characterization, qualification, and reliability testing of ESDS HV electronics, including dielectric withstand (hipot), insulation resistance, contactor switching and fault-current interruption, bus transient/inrush characterization, and power/thermal cycling, plus environmental stress testing (thermal/humidity cycling, vibration and shock, accelerated life, and EMI/EMC, HIRF, and lightning effects)
  • Work closely with System Engineers on battery pack-level verification and validation, including electrical acceptance tests on aircraft representative packs with Safety-of-Flight documentation, evaluation of BMS functional behavior and battery algorithms (SoC, SoE, etc.), and validation of protection functions
  • Analyze electrical test data (waveforms, power quality, thermal-electrical performance) to generate reports that give design teams quantifiable feedback for design optimization and certification compliance; perform root cause investigation and failure analysis of HV electronics, documenting findings for corrective action
  • Coordinate and lead test kickoff, test readiness, and data review meetings; work with the Test Program Manager to plan work, schedule test resources, report progress, and ensure tests are properly documented and closed out
  • Work closely with Design Engineers, System Engineers, DERs, and Certification Engineers to verify ESDS HV electronics meet design requirements; author Qualification Test Plans and Procedures (QTP) and balance iterative R&D testing with formal FAA witnessed Qualification testing
  • Aid in the incremental automation of pack, and BMS, functional electrical test setups while applying deep knowledge of HV safety threats, lockout/tagout, and prevention best practices
Required
  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering or relevant discipline with 5+ years of work experience in a relevant industry performing Test Engineering activities on high-voltage electronics or battery systems, OR Advanced degsree and 3+ years of experience
  • Experience testing high-voltage, high-power electronics (such as power distribution units, DC/DC converters, contactors, fuses, and protection circuits) in electric vehicle, aerospace, or similar applications
  • Practical experience with HV electrical test methods including dielectric withstand (hipot), insulation resistance, isolation monitoring, and high-current/transient measurements
  • Practical experience using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes (including HV differential probes and current probes), data acquisition systems, power analyzers, programmable power supplies and electronic loads, and battery cyclers/emulators
  • Experience with environmental stress testing of electronics including thermal and humidity cycling, vibration, and electromagnetic interference
  • Domain knowledge of battery monitoring techniques, cell and pack failure modes and mitigation, and high voltage safety
  • Strong data handling, processing, and presentation skills, with excellent problem-solving techniques and analytical ability
  • Positive attitude and willingness to work individually and as part of a team; maintains a clean workspace and inventory of tools and equipment
  • Be agile and adapt to evolving requirements and changes in direction
Desired
  • Experience testing or verifying Battery Management System hardware, including functional verification of protection and measurement circuits
  • Experience testing airborne electronic hardware to DO-160, DO-311A, SAE, MIL-810 (or similar standards) environmental tests; prior DO-160 training is a plus
  • Knowledge of Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) testing, including HIRF and lightning-induced transient susceptibility
  • Experience with high voltage Lithium-ion battery systems and battery pack cycle test equipment
  • Experience with instrumentation (e.g. contactors, current/voltage sensors, thermocouples, accelerometers, strain gauges) and data acquisition
  • Practical knowledge of root cause analysis (nondestructive) of electronics failure best practices
  • Experience with MATLAB/Python for post-processing of data from equipment under test and external instrumentation
  • Experience with LabView for data acquisition and test automation (invoking desired equipment functions in different conditions)
  • Experience with the aircraft FAA certification process
  • Strong physics and/or material properties background is a plus
  • M.S. in Electrical Engineering is a plus
Additional Information

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $104,400 - $183,500/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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