Pivotal
Pivotal is the leader in the emerging market of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. We design, develop, and manufacture light eVTOL aircraft and are renowned for the BlackFly, the first light eVTOL to fly manned missions and enter the consumer market.
Efficient, compact, and simple, Pivotal vehicles are designed for a wide range of consumer, public service, and defense applications. Our distinctive tilt‑aircraft architecture and scalable platform have been in development, preparing to enter the market for over 10 years. We recently announced our next-generation aircraft, the Helix, planned for general release and scalable production in early 2025.
Mobility is one of the most highly‑valued areas of technology investment today. This is the right company, in the right space, the right strategy, at the right time. We invite you to join our amazing team and grow with us.
As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will develop, lead, maintain system requirements and system architecture in conjunction with the engineering leads. You work seamlessly across functions and understand the systems engineering approach and execution of a complex system development effort. You will also maintain system reliability in conjunction with the engineering leads. You work seamlessly across functions and understand the systems engineering approach and execution of a complex system development effort. You are comfortable with a range of tools including JAMA Reliance for reliability and project management tools, including Jira, Git Lab and MS Project. You are tenacious and drive accountability and leverage the collective smarts of teams to find better solutions – committed to “finding a way”.
Ideally, you also bring a passion for technology, aviation, and the future of personal flight!
Responsibilities
Act as engineering project owner for cross functional system level development and prototype projects
Manage requirements traceability and evolution through the system development cycle
Allocate requirements to subsystem & engineering coordination
Evaluate system performance thresholds and provide direction
Provide input for model development and simulation analysis
Review and interpret customer specification effectively
Identify, analyze and resolve system design weaknesses
Influences the shaping of future products by contributing to the framework (architecture) used across multiple products or systems
Help build and drive a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) process that continuously feeds FMEA learnings into functional requirements
Collaborate with engineers in compliance analysis, system interface definitions, and associated requirements definition
Ensure “white spaces” in verification and validation plans or results are quickly resolved while keeping project on track to schedule
Engage with our test team on verification & validation (V&V) test plans to ensure comprehensive coverage of requirements
Perform reliability & failure analysis and qualification for product launch
Work closely with engineering teams to assess the reliability of a product and use it to improve product performance and inform new product reliability
Provide weekly status of system development progress with requirements burn down and reliability assessment progress
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Engineering/Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
5+ years experience using a reliability analysis tool (Reliance preferred)
5+years experience in a systems-type product development environment involving requirements development, FMEA, compliance standards, and V&V test planning
5+ years of combined experience in reliability and systems engineering, or aerospace engineering required
Has managed requirements traceability and evolution through the system development cycle
Provided an effective weekly status of system development progress with requirements burn down
Familiarity with electronics and systems related to image collection and analysis
Familiarity with FAA PT103, PT23, and MIL STD 810Has developed systems test plans, procedures, and reports and reviewed and interpreted specifications
Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
Consistently demonstrates teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests
Highly knowledgeable in the disciplines of writing engineering requirements, FMEA and V&V test planning
Expert in one or more requirements management and documentation tools (e.g. JAMA, DOORS, Polarion, or similar)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Bonus Qualifications
3+ years experience using a reliability analysis tool (Reliance preferred)
Taking a product from concept to production with contract manufacturers is a plus
Exposure to Guidance Navigation and Control Systems along with Modeling Simulation & Control and Model-Based Systems Engineering is helpful but not required
Knowledge of Simulink, Ansys and Solidworks preferred
Possesses an interest in creating Architectures using Model Based Engineering tools
Proficiency with C/C++ and Matlab
Proficient with office software and computer based productivity tools
Attributes aligned with Core Values
Demonstrates a proactive safety mindset by embedding safety into daily operations, identifying and mitigating risks through assessments and training, encouraging open dialogue on safety concerns, and continuously improving protocols to ensure a safe work environment.
Puts customers at the center of every action by deeply understanding their challenges, delivering exceptional value, and striving to exceed expectations to support their success as our core purpose.
Actively seeks and values diverse stakeholder perspectives, builds cross-functional relationships, and fosters trust through empathetic, fact-based communication—committing to shared decisions for the greater good.
Drives results with clarity and purpose by focusing on what matters most, adapting to change, taking initiative, and owning outcomes while aligning actions with a clear understanding of success at every level.
Navigates ambiguity with resilience and bold thinking, challenges the status quo, and combines innovative ideas with practical best practices to overcome obstacles and drive progress.
Fosters a high-performance culture grounded in respect, professionalism, and support—balancing high expectations with a healthy, collaborative environment and being a trusted, dependable teammate.
$82,500 - $187,500 a year
Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States and willing to work onsite at our HQ office in Palo Alto, CA.
Pivotal offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401k plans.
Pivotal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pivotal does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Efficient, compact, and simple, Pivotal vehicles are designed for a wide range of consumer, public service, and defense applications. Our distinctive tilt‑aircraft architecture and scalable platform have been in development, preparing to enter the market for over 10 years. We recently announced our next-generation aircraft, the Helix, planned for general release and scalable production in early 2025.
Mobility is one of the most highly‑valued areas of technology investment today. This is the right company, in the right space, the right strategy, at the right time. We invite you to join our amazing team and grow with us.
As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will develop, lead, maintain system requirements and system architecture in conjunction with the engineering leads. You work seamlessly across functions and understand the systems engineering approach and execution of a complex system development effort. You will also maintain system reliability in conjunction with the engineering leads. You work seamlessly across functions and understand the systems engineering approach and execution of a complex system development effort. You are comfortable with a range of tools including JAMA Reliance for reliability and project management tools, including Jira, Git Lab and MS Project. You are tenacious and drive accountability and leverage the collective smarts of teams to find better solutions – committed to “finding a way”.
Ideally, you also bring a passion for technology, aviation, and the future of personal flight!
Responsibilities
Act as engineering project owner for cross functional system level development and prototype projects
Manage requirements traceability and evolution through the system development cycle
Allocate requirements to subsystem & engineering coordination
Evaluate system performance thresholds and provide direction
Provide input for model development and simulation analysis
Review and interpret customer specification effectively
Identify, analyze and resolve system design weaknesses
Influences the shaping of future products by contributing to the framework (architecture) used across multiple products or systems
Help build and drive a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) process that continuously feeds FMEA learnings into functional requirements
Collaborate with engineers in compliance analysis, system interface definitions, and associated requirements definition
Ensure “white spaces” in verification and validation plans or results are quickly resolved while keeping project on track to schedule
Engage with our test team on verification & validation (V&V) test plans to ensure comprehensive coverage of requirements
Perform reliability & failure analysis and qualification for product launch
Work closely with engineering teams to assess the reliability of a product and use it to improve product performance and inform new product reliability
Provide weekly status of system development progress with requirements burn down and reliability assessment progress
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Engineering/Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
5+ years experience using a reliability analysis tool (Reliance preferred)
5+years experience in a systems-type product development environment involving requirements development, FMEA, compliance standards, and V&V test planning
5+ years of combined experience in reliability and systems engineering, or aerospace engineering required
Has managed requirements traceability and evolution through the system development cycle
Provided an effective weekly status of system development progress with requirements burn down
Familiarity with electronics and systems related to image collection and analysis
Familiarity with FAA PT103, PT23, and MIL STD 810Has developed systems test plans, procedures, and reports and reviewed and interpreted specifications
Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
Consistently demonstrates teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests
Highly knowledgeable in the disciplines of writing engineering requirements, FMEA and V&V test planning
Expert in one or more requirements management and documentation tools (e.g. JAMA, DOORS, Polarion, or similar)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Bonus Qualifications
3+ years experience using a reliability analysis tool (Reliance preferred)
Taking a product from concept to production with contract manufacturers is a plus
Exposure to Guidance Navigation and Control Systems along with Modeling Simulation & Control and Model-Based Systems Engineering is helpful but not required
Knowledge of Simulink, Ansys and Solidworks preferred
Possesses an interest in creating Architectures using Model Based Engineering tools
Proficiency with C/C++ and Matlab
Proficient with office software and computer based productivity tools
Attributes aligned with Core Values
Demonstrates a proactive safety mindset by embedding safety into daily operations, identifying and mitigating risks through assessments and training, encouraging open dialogue on safety concerns, and continuously improving protocols to ensure a safe work environment.
Puts customers at the center of every action by deeply understanding their challenges, delivering exceptional value, and striving to exceed expectations to support their success as our core purpose.
Actively seeks and values diverse stakeholder perspectives, builds cross-functional relationships, and fosters trust through empathetic, fact-based communication—committing to shared decisions for the greater good.
Drives results with clarity and purpose by focusing on what matters most, adapting to change, taking initiative, and owning outcomes while aligning actions with a clear understanding of success at every level.
Navigates ambiguity with resilience and bold thinking, challenges the status quo, and combines innovative ideas with practical best practices to overcome obstacles and drive progress.
Fosters a high-performance culture grounded in respect, professionalism, and support—balancing high expectations with a healthy, collaborative environment and being a trusted, dependable teammate.
$82,500 - $187,500 a year
Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States and willing to work onsite at our HQ office in Palo Alto, CA.
Pivotal offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401k plans.
Pivotal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pivotal does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
#J-18808-Ljbffr