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Staff Airframe Stress Engineer

XWING

Santa Cruz, CAFull-time$185–255K/yrPosted 3mo agoStill listed 4 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$185–255K/yr
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Job overview

XWING is hiring a Staff Airframe Stress Engineer. Joby Aviation seeks an experienced staff‑level Fatigue & Damage Tolerance engineer to lead durability efforts, develop methodologies, and support certification of its urban air‑mobility aircraft, collaborating across disciplines while ensuring structural integrity and compliance with FAA requirements.

Key focus areas include Lead fatigue and damage tolerance substantiation of aircraft primary structures, Develop fatigue and damage tolerance methodologies, certification strategies, and compliance approaches, and Perform fatigue life assessments using analytical and numerical methods.

Successful candidates bring B.S. In Aerospace Engineering, B.S. In Mechanical Engineering, and B.S. In Related Discipline. Important skills include Fatigue And Damage Tolerance Substantiation, Fatigue And Damage Tolerance Methodologies, Certification Strategies, Compliance Approaches For Aircraft Certification Programs, Fatigue Life Assessments, and Analytical Methods. Preferred (not required): Metallic Airframe Structures Experience, Composite Airframe Structures Experience, Rotorcraft Support, and Highly Fatigue-Critical Aerospace Structures Support.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Fatigue and Damage Tolerance SubstantiationFatigue and Damage Tolerance MethodologiesCertification StrategiesCompliance Approaches for Aircraft Certification ProgramsFatigue Life AssessmentsAnalytical MethodsNumerical MethodsCrack Initiation AnalysisCrack Growth AnalysisResidual Strength AnalysisFracture Mechanics PrinciplesNASGROStructural Design DevelopmentFatigue-Critical Features IdentificationDesign Improvements RecommendationStructural Fatigue and Durability Test Programs DevelopmentCoupon TestingElement TestingSubcomponent TestingFull-Scale Test StrategiesFatigue and Damage Tolerance Test Plans AuthoringReports AuthoringCertification Documentation AuthoringInspection Intervals DefinitionStructural Maintenance Requirements DefinitionContinued Airworthiness Programs DefinitionDamage Tolerance AssessmentsCrack Growth AnalysesFatigue Substantiation Strategies DevelopmentCertification Plans DevelopmentCompliance Documentation DevelopmentStructural Inspection Programs DevelopmentContinued Airworthiness Requirements DevelopmentMission Spectra DevelopmentFatigue Load Spectra DevelopmentFull-Scale Fatigue Test Campaigns SupportCertification Activities SupportFAA Part 23 Airworthiness RequirementsFAA Part 27 Airworthiness RequirementsMetallic Airframe Structures ExperienceComposite Airframe Structures ExperienceRotorcraft SupportHighly Fatigue-Critical Aerospace Structures SupportMilitary Fatigue and Damage Tolerance Standards FamiliarityLeading Fatigue and Damage Tolerance Activities Through a Complete Aircraft Certification ProgramFatigue & Damage ToleranceStructural Fatigue and Durability Test ProgramsCertification DocumentationStructural Maintenance RequirementsContinued Airworthiness ProgramsCompliance ApproachesMetallic Airframe StructuresComposite Airframe StructuresRotorcraft Structures

Qualifications

B.S in Aerospace EngineeringB.S in Mechanical EngineeringB.S in Related Discipline8+ Years of Working Experience in Aerospace IndustryWork Onsite in Santa Cruz, CAM.S. In Relevant DisciplinePh.D. In Relevant Discipline

Benefits

Paid Time Off
Medical Insurance
401(k) Match

Full job description

Staff Airframe Stress Engineer Job Locations US-CA-Santa Cruz ID 2026-5227 Category Airframe & Actuators Type Regular Full-Time 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 staff level Fatigue & Damage Tolerance (F&DT) engineer who believes in the ability of urban air mobility to positively impact our cities. This role is an exciting position within the structures engineering team, as it allows for the engineer to interface with many disciplines within the company and assume a major role in the design of the aircraft. Prototypes are designed quickly and efficiently, meaning attention to detail is critical. This team member will have extensive experience leading fatigue and damage tolerance efforts through aircraft development and certification programs and will serve as a subject matter expert for structural durability and airworthiness.

Responsibilities Lead fatigue and damage tolerance substantiation of aircraft primary structures Develop fatigue and damage tolerance methodologies, certification strategies, and compliance approaches for aircraft certification programs Perform fatigue life assessments using analytical and numerical methods Conduct crack initiation, crack growth, and residual strength analyses using fracture mechanics principles and industry-standard tools such as NASGRO Support structural design development by identifying fatigue-critical features and recommending design improvements Develop structural fatigue and durability test programs, including coupon, element, subcomponent, and full-scale test strategies Author fatigue and damage tolerance test plans, reports, and certification documentation Define inspection intervals, structural maintenance requirements, and continued airworthiness programs based on damage tolerance assessments Required B.S in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or another related discipline 8+ years of working experience in aerospace industry with significant emphasis on fatigue and damage tolerance Demonstrated experience performing fatigue and damage tolerance substantiation of primary aircraft structures Strong knowledge of fatigue, fracture mechanics, and damage tolerance methodologies Experience performing crack growth analyses using NASGRO or equivalent fracture mechanics software Experience developing fatigue substantiation strategies, certification plans, and compliance documentation for aircraft certification programs Experience developing and executing structural durability and fatigue test programs, including authoring test plans, test reports, and analysis reports Experience developing structural inspection programs and continued airworthiness requirements Experience developing mission spectra and fatigue load spectra for structural durability and damage tolerance assessments Experience supporting full-scale fatigue test campaigns and certification activities Working knowledge of FAA Part 23 and/or Part 27 airworthiness requirements and associated guidance material Ability to work onsite in Santa Cruz, CA Desired M.S. or Ph.D. in relevant discipline 12+ years of working experience in aerospace industry Experience with both metallic and composite airframe structures Experience supporting rotorcraft, or other highly fatigue-critical aerospace structures Familiarity with military and commercial fatigue and damage tolerance standards Experience leading fatigue and damage tolerance activities through a complete aircraft certification program Additional Information Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $185,300 - $254,800/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.

Joby is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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