Test Engineer - Battery Electronics

Joby Aviation Senior Test Engineer

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, contractors, 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).

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, contractors, 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

• 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
• Experie…