Joby Flight Research designs, develops, and flight-tests novel aircraft using a software-first autonomy approach. We build and deploy autonomy, perception, planning, and radar systems across conventional, electric, and hydrogen-electric aircraft in both CTOL and VTOL configurations.

Joby Aviation’s Flight Research team is looking for a driven Navigation Software Engineer to contribute to the research and development of autonomous aircraft.

We are a small, close-knit and agile team; you will work closely with radar, perception, controls, and autonomy engineers in Germany, Austria, and California to develop state estimation and navigation algorithms to support the development of advanced autonomy capabilities.

The role focuses on state estimation, inertial navigation, and the fusion of radar and vision-based measurements into robust navigation solutions. You will develop and evaluate navigation algorithms, build sensor simulation capabilities, and analyze navigation performance using both simulated and real-world flight data.

Were looking for someone who delivers high-quality flight software, acts with agency, and is capable of picking up a wide variety of tasks spanning research prototyping, production flight software, and analysis tooling.

• Develop high-quality navigation and state estimation software (C++) for experimental VTOL and CTOL aircraft.
• Design and implement multi-sensor fusion algorithms incorporating inertial, radar, and perception sensor inputs.
• Contribute to simulation and analysis tools (C++ / Python) used to evaluate navigation performance and algorithm robustness.
• Build and maintain sensor simulation capabilities to support algorithm development, regression testing, and performance evaluation.
• Collaborate closely with radar, perception, controls, and autonomy engineers to design well-integrated navigation and estimation architectures.

• Bachelors degree in related field and Bachelors degree +5 years experience.

• Expert knowledge of inertial navigation, including strapdown mechanization, inertial sensor error modeling, and integration of inertial measurements with aiding sensors.

• Deep understanding of navigation coordinate frames, rigid-body kinematics, frame transformations, and orientation representations.

• Solid grounding in modern state estimation methods.

• Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to investigate simulated and real-world data and to identify the root cause of measurement and state estimation issues.

• Experience writing real-time and safety-critical C++ flight software.

• Experience writing C++ and Python in a professional environment.

This position must meet US export control compliance requirements, therefore a candidate must qualify as a “US Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.15. “US Person” includes US Citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees.

• Knowledge of and experience with inertial and aiding sensor technology (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, GNSS, air data sensors).
• Experience developing navigation systems for aircraft.
• Familiarity with radar principles and their application to navigation.
• Working knowledge of GNSS principles, including measurement models and error sources.
• Experience developing sensor simulation models for navigation algorithm development and testing.
• Knowledge of navigation integrity concepts, fault detection, and fault exclusion.
• Experience developing flight-test experiments for quantitative evaluation of navigation or estimation performance.

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is 75,100 - 90,000/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 Aviation is an equal opportunity employer.