Drowning in their own Kool-Aid - Anonymous employee Joby Aviation Employee Review

1.0
18 Aug 2020
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Generally flexible about when and where you work - No layoffs from covid

Cons

TLDR: The engineering culture here will make it extremely difficult if not impossible to certify the vehicle. I've been here for two years now, and the culture has not improved from an engineering standpoint to be able to achieve company goals. - Not a single person in senior leadership has experience type certifying an aircraft, nor does any one of them have experience developing a commercial aircraft in general. - People who have experience type certifying aircraft are often squashed by management who are more interested in forcing a "Joby way" of doing things than doing it the way we have to in order to get a type certificate. - No career paths or opportunities for advancement unless you're in the inner circle. - Management in certain groups will shun you if you ask for career growth opportunities. - Management is 95% white men (neither atypical for tech nor aerospace, but it is still disappointing given the 'progressive' culture this company advertises). - By no means is the work here more difficult or moving at a faster pace than other commercial aircraft programs, but the people here who've never worked one before think we're better than any airframer in existence. - Company has an 'everyone's voice deserves to be heard' mentality which makes it extremely hard to make progress.

Explore other reviews about Joby Aviation

5.0
3 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fun place to be as an engineer. The company philosophy is to be highly vertically integrated across the full stack of technologies necessary to build and operate electric aircraft. This results in an environment where you are surrounded by the tools and technical expertise to build pretty much anything. The company mission is motivating. There is a steady stream of highly interesting projects to work on. The company culture is very open and friendly. 3 free meals per day, with most people eating together at communal tables.

Cons

Management frequently sets highly unrealistic schedules and goals, to the point that no front-line worker has any faith in the timelines. No one is motivated to reach and achieve a deadline that is impossible with the resources given. Space is at a premium in San Carlos. Everyone is crammed into the building like sardines. Few windows.

3.0
31 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fairly relaxed compared to a real startup. Breakfast lunch and dinner. Most people are great, typically very collaborative

Cons

High level company goals often clash with producing a manufacturable product. The reasoning is sound, but can make it difficult to find motivation. The company is also taking on projects that need more structure than the startup environment can often provide. Poor compensation.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All