Sr/Staff Automation Controls Engineer
San Carlos, CAJob$132–213K/yrPosted todayStill listed today
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At a glance
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Job overview
Joby Aviation seeks a Senior/Staff Automation Controls Engineer to develop custom manufacturing equipment for assembling and testing its S4 aircraft. The role combines software, electrical hardware, robotics, and engineering fundamentals, with responsibility for equipment design, commissioning, and production readiness. The engineer will work with manufacturing and test engineers on advanced powertrain and electronics manufacturing equipment.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
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 Senior/Staff Automation Controls Engineer to make the machines that make our aircraft. As part of this team located in San Carlos, CA, you will develop custom manufacturing equipment to assemble and test the Joby S4 aircraft. This role combines software, electrical hardware, robotics, and engineering fundamentals to make electromechanical workstations come to life. The role requires strong analytical capability in electrical control design, a broad knowledge of available controls components and sensors, industrial software, and validation in a manufacturing environment. We’re looking for an individual who excels in hands-on environments and engages broad responsibility on novel technical challenges. Come help us build advanced powertrain and electronics manufacturing equipment as we transform transportation.
Responsibilities
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Own the electromechanical, software, and commissioning aspects of custom manufacturing equipment development, partnering with manufacturing engineers and manufacturing test engineers to bring assembly and test processes to production
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Design and develop scalable PLC software in Structured Text (IEC 61131-3), creating reusable libraries and standardized software components
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Develop intuitive and maintainable HMIs for machine operation, diagnostics, and maintenance
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Create complete electrical design packages, including component selection, electrical schematics, panel layouts, wiring documentation, and bills of materials
Required
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BS in Electrical Engineering or related field with 6+ years of experience developing automation controls in a manufacturing environment
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Proficiency in structured text PLC programming
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Strong foundation in electrical panel design and component selection
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Proficiency in electrical schematic authoring
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Hands-on experience building and wiring electrical panels for assembly and/or test equipment
Desired
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Experience programming Beckhoff PLCs using Structured Text (IEC 61131-3/TwinCAT), Python, C, C++, C#, and/or Visual Basic .NET
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Experience with EtherCAT, TCP/IP, Modbus RTU/TCP, and other common industrial communication protocols
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Experience with Ignition Perspective
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Proficiency with FANUC robots
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Familiarity with motion control using Bosch Rexroth and/or Beckhoff platforms
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Experience designing electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical
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Experience with industrial vision systems, including Cognex, FANUC iRVision, and Keyence
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Experience selecting and integrating precision sensors, DAQs, and instrumentation
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Experience integrating PLCs, SCADA, and MES systems
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Knowledge of NEC, NFPA 79, NFPA 70E, and UL 508A requirements for industrial control systems
Additional Information
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $131,700 - $213,100/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
How this job compares
Set against the 2,384 open Controls Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 7, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$132–213K/yr
- California median$135–190K/yr169 salary ranges
- US median$110–160K/yr1,348 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $172K, is 8% above the California median midpoint ($160K) — in the middle half of Controls Engineer salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 217 open Controls Engineer jobs in California and 2,384 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 6 years of experience; Controls Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (2,010 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 1,186 of the 2,384 open Controls Engineer jobs (50%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 7, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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