Application Guide
How to Apply for RF and Hardware Engineer
at Joby Aviation
🏢 About Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation is pioneering the future of personal mobility with electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that are quiet, fast, and emission-free. Their Flight Research division takes a software-first autonomy approach, giving engineers the chance to work on cutting-edge radar, perception, and flight control systems for both CTOL and VTOL aircraft.
About This Role
As an RF and Hardware Engineer, you will own the design of high-speed ADC/DAC sampling cards that bridge analog RF signals with digital FPGAs via JESD204B/C protocols. Your work directly impacts the performance of radar and communication systems for autonomous flight, making you a key contributor to the aircraft's sensing and decision-making capabilities.
💡 A Day in the Life
You'll start by reviewing system requirements with the FPGA team, then dive into schematic capture and simulation of a new ADC card. After lunch, you might run EM simulations on a critical RF trace, followed by a lab session debugging a clock jitter issue. The day ends with a design review meeting and updating documentation.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Joby Aviation Is Looking For
- Deep experience with high-speed mixed-signal design, including ADC/DAC selection, JESD204B/C link configuration, and ultra-low phase-noise clocking trees.
- Proven track record in RF front-end architecture, from component selection to EM/SI simulation and lab bring-up.
- Strong collaboration skills to work with FPGA teams on defining JESD204 parameters (lanes, line rates, subclass) and meeting system latency/bandwidth requirements.
- Hands-on lab skills for debug and validation of high-speed PCBs, including use of oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and signal integrity tools.
📝 Tips for Applying to Joby Aviation
Highlight specific projects where you designed and brought up high-speed ADC/DAC cards, especially those using JESD204B/C protocols.
Quantify your impact: mention achieved sampling rates, SNR, SFDR, or jitter performance improvements.
Showcase any experience with aerospace or safety-critical systems, even if not directly related to RF.
Mention familiarity with Joby's eVTOL technology and autonomy-first approach in your cover letter.
Tailor your resume to emphasize hardware lifecycle ownership (architecture, simulation, layout, test) rather than just design.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your expertise in high-speed mixed-signal design and JESD204B/C interfaces.', 'Your ability to own the full hardware lifecycle from concept to lab validation.', "Your passion for aviation and autonomous systems, and how your skills align with Joby's mission.", 'Specific examples of solving signal integrity challenges and pushing data converter performance.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study Joby's eVTOL aircraft specifications (range, speed, noise levels) and how radar/autonomy systems contribute.
- → Read about Joby's Flight Research division and their software-first autonomy approach.
- → Understand the JESD204B/C standard and common challenges in multi-gigabit data transport.
- → Look into Joby's recent FAA certification progress and any technical publications or patents.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention RF, JESD204, or autonomy.
- Overlooking the importance of lab bring-up and hands-on testing in your application.
- Failing to demonstrate how your work directly impacted system performance (e.g., improved SNR, reduced jitter).
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!