XWING logo

Loads and Dynamics Engineer

XWING

Santa Cruz, CAFull-time$122–206K/yrPosted 2mo agoVerified open 6 days ago

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

At a glance

Compensation
$122–206K/yr
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree

Job overview

XWING is hiring a Loads and Dynamics Engineer. Joby Aviation is seeking a Loads Engineer to join its Flight Physics team during a critical phase of eVTOL aircraft development and FAA certification. The role sits at the intersection of structural loads and modeling and simulation, contributing to external loads analysis and advancing high‑fidelity simulation capabilities while working alongside experienced engineers and flight test teams.

Key focus areas include Perform external loads analysis for aircraft and its systems across the full operational envelope, Directly support flight and ground testing in day-to-day test campaign operations in CA, and Support data reduction and analysis from flight test and ground test campaigns.

Successful candidates bring Bachelor's Degree In Aerospace Engineering, 3+ Years Relevant Experience In Structural Loads, and Strong Academic Project Or Thesis Work. Important skills include Structural Loads, Aeroelasticity, NASTRAN, Abaqus, ZONA, and MATLAB. Preferred (not required): Multi-DOF Flight Dynamics Simulations, Coupled Aero-Structural Analysis, Software Development Background, and Simulation Frameworks.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Structural LoadsAeroelasticityNASTRANAbaqusZONAMATLABPythonFirst-Principles Problem-SolvingLinuxHPC EnvironmentMulti-DOF Flight Dynamics SimulationsCoupled Aero-Structural AnalysisSoftware Development BackgroundSimulation FrameworksOpen-Source ToolsRotordynamicsRotorcraft AerodynamicsEVTOL AerodynamicsHigh-Performance ComputingLarge-Scale Data MiningData ScienceFAR/EASA Part 23FAR/EASA Part 25FAR/EASA Part 27First-Principles Problem-Solving Approach

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace EngineeringBachelor's Degree in Relevant Discipline3+ Years Relevant ExperienceM.S. In Aerospace EngineeringM.S. In Mechanical EngineeringPh.D. In Aerospace EngineeringPh.D. In Mechanical Engineering1-3 Years Direct Loads Analysis Experience

Benefits

Paid Time Off
Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Parental Leave
Tuition Assistance
Relocation Assistance

Full job description

Loads and Dynamics Engineer Job Locations US-CA-Santa Cruz ID 2026-5172 Category Flight Physics 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 a Loads Engineer to join our Flight Physics team during a critical phase of eVTOL aircraft development and FAA certification. This role sits at the intersection of structural loads and modeling and simulation. You will contribute directly to external loads analysis while helping advance the team's high-fidelity simulation capabilities. You will work alongside experienced loads engineers, flight test teams, and simulation specialists in a fast-paced, hands-on environment where the work you do directly shapes the certification of a new class of aircraft. This role is for an energetic, driven and curious candidate with strong fundamental skills and some experience, who wishes to continue to grow and learn, and help us bring eVTOL to the world with high safety and quality standards.

Responsibilities

  • Perform external loads analysis for aircraft and its systems across the full operational envelope
  • Directly support flight and ground testing in day-to-day test campaign operations in CA
  • Support data reduction and analysis from flight test and ground test campaigns
  • Develop and maintain various aeroelastic and aerodynamic models in support of loads derivation
  • Contribute to the development and improvement of analysis and simulation tools used by the loads team
  • Correlate and validate analytical models against experimental and flight test data
  • Support analysis and loads database development for use by structural and systems design teams
  • Contribute to FAA certification-related documentation and compliance efforts under the guidance of senior engineers
  • Collaborate across Flight Physics, Airframe, Systems, Flight Test, Ground Test and Certification teams Required
  • Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a relevant discipline
  • 3+ years of relevant experience in structural loads, aeroelasticity, or closely related field; strong and applicable academic project or thesis work considered
  • Solid understanding of aircraft loads fundamentals and aeroelastic principles
  • Experience with finite element or aeroelastic analysis tools (NASTRAN, Abaqus, ZONA or similar)
  • Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for analysis and automation
  • Strong first-principles problem-solving approach; ability to reason through unfamiliar problems, not just apply known methods
  • Ability to work effectively in a Linux/HPC environment
  • On-site presence required in Santa Cruz and/or Marina, CA, particularly during active flight test periods Desired
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
  • Experience with multi-DOF flight dynamics simulations or coupled aero-structural analysis
  • Software development background; experience contributing to simulation frameworks or open-source tools
  • Familiarity with rotordynamics, rotorcraft or eVTOL aerodynamics and loads environments
  • Experience with high-performance computing for large-scale analysis
  • Experience or understanding of large-scale data mining and data science
  • Familiarity or demonstrated experience with FAR/EASA Part 23, 25, or 27 requirements
  • 1-3 years of direct loads analysis experience Additional Information Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $121,500-$206,100/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

Options Apply for this job online Apply Share Sorry the Share function is not working properly at this moment. Please refresh the page and try again later. Share on your newsfeed If you have questions about our online applications, please see our application FAQ.

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.