Talent.com
Senior GNC Engineer - Flight Control Verification

Senior GNC Engineer - Flight Control Verification

PivotalPalo Alto, California, United States, 94301
2 days ago
Job type
  • Full-time
Job description

Senior GNC Engineer - Flight Control Verification

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 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.

Pivotal is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer to focus on requirements definition, verification, and validation of GNC features for our eVTOL aircraft. This role emphasizes developing testable requirements, designing simulation and flight test cases, and ensuring that safety-critical features such as flight envelope limiters and state estimation are robust across worst-case scenarios. The position requires close collaboration with flight test, systems, and controls teams to validate designs at both the simulation and aircraft levels.

Responsibilities

  • Define and refine requirements for flight guidance, navigation and control features.
  • Plan and execute system-level verification and validation activities, including MIL / SIL testing, simulations (e.g. Monte Carlo simulations) and flight test campaigns.
  • Develop flight and / or simulation test cases that probe requirement compliance under worst-case environmental and system conditions.
  • Collaborate with systems engineering and flight test teams to align requirements, simulation results, and flight validation.
  • Analyze flight test data to evaluate compliance with requirements and identify gaps or edge cases.
  • Document test plans, results, and compliance evidence for safety and certification purposes.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of verification processes, standards, and infrastructure.
  • Mentor junior engineers on verification best practices.

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in flight control systems, verification, or flight test support.
  • Solid understanding of flight dynamics, state estimation (Kalman filters, sensor fusion, sensor characteristics) and control systems (envelope protection, stability, handling qualities).
  • Demonstrated ability to define requirements and design verification strategies for safety-critical systems.
  • Experience planning or executing flight test activities.
  • Strong problem-solving and communication skills; able to work across teams.
  • Proficiency with MATLAB / Simulink and Python for modeling and analysis.
  • Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Simulink Test, test harness creation, automated regression, and coverage analysis.
  • Familiarity with static / dynamic code analysis tools (e.g., Polyspace).
  • Knowledge of safety / reliability standards (DO-178C, DO-331, ISO 26262, etc.).
  • Familiarity with system identification and control analysis tools (e.g., CIFER, CONDUIT).
  • Scripting experience (Python, MATLAB, etc.) for test automation and data analysis.
  • Hands-on experience with UAVs, RC aircraft, or flight test instrumentation.
  • Experience with version control (Git), requirements management tools, and scripting (Python, MATLAB).
  • 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 communicationcommitting 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 supportbalancing high expectations with a healthy, collaborative environment and being a trusted, dependable teammate.
  • 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.

    $152,000 - $172,000 a year

    Compensation details : 152000-172000 Yearly Salary

    PI24af87a05f02-30511-38110593

    Create a job alert for this search

    Senior Control Engineer • Palo Alto, California, United States, 94301

    Related jobs
    • Promoted
    Air Interdiction Agent

    Air Interdiction Agent

    U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionHayward, CA, United States
    Full-time
    Pilot CBP Air Interdiction Agent.Air and Marine Operations (AMO), a component of U.Customs and Border Protection (CBP), offers skilled Pilots interested in law enforcement an opportunity to work wi...Show moreLast updated: 3 days ago
    • Promoted
    Verification and Validation Engineer / Senior V&V Engineer

    Verification and Validation Engineer / Senior V&V Engineer

    Bayside SolutionsSan Mateo County, CA, United States
    Full-time +1
    Verification and Validation Engineer / Senior V&V Engineer.Conduct design verification and validation testing for product development activities. Support all technical aspects of the product and instr...Show moreLast updated: 11 days ago
    Senior Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer

    Senior Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer

    MatternetMountain View, CA, US
    Full-time
    Quick Apply
    Matternet designs, builds, and operates.Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer.In this role, you will be responsible for the design, development, and implementation of advanced GNC...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago
    • Promoted
    Senior R&D Engineer, Med Device

    Senior R&D Engineer, Med Device

    Eliassen GroupSan Mateo, CA, US
    Full-time
    BUSINESS PROBLEM, CONTEXT & INITIATIVE DESCRIPTION.Our client is a privately held medical device company based in Northern California growing rapidly in the development of disease-modifying the...Show moreLast updated: 10 days ago
    • Promoted
    Senior Building Engineer

    Senior Building Engineer

    CBRE GroupLivermore, CA, US
    Full-time
    CBRE GWS works with clients to make real estate a meaningful contributor to organizational productivity and performance.Our account management model is at the heart of our client-centric approach t...Show moreLast updated: 13 days ago
    • Promoted
    Verification Validation Engineer, Medical Device (Hayward)

    Verification Validation Engineer, Medical Device (Hayward)

    SciProHayward, CA, US
    Part-time
    This is not a software role • • •.The focus will be mechanical / medical device testing and V&V protocols through simulated use studies in partnership with surgeons. Design Verification & Validation : .P...Show moreLast updated: 6 days ago
    • Promoted
    Senior R&D Engineer, Med Device (Alameda)

    Senior R&D Engineer, Med Device (Alameda)

    Eliassen GroupAlameda, CA, US
    Part-time
    BUSINESS PROBLEM, CONTEXT & INITIATIVE DESCRIPTION.Our client is a privately held medical device company based in Northern California growing rapidly in the development of disease-modifying therapi...Show moreLast updated: 6 days ago
    • Promoted
    Survey Party Chief

    Survey Party Chief

    Kier & WrightLivermore, CA, US
    Full-time
    Join Our Cutting-Edge Survey Team as a Survey Party Chief!.Join our team as a Party Chief, where your expertise will contribute significantly to the success of our projects while fostering a collab...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago
    • Promoted
    Verification Validation Engineer, Medical Device (San Francisco)

    Verification Validation Engineer, Medical Device (San Francisco)

    SciProSan Francisco, CA, US
    Part-time
    This is not a software role • • •.The focus will be mechanical / medical device testing and V&V protocols through simulated use studies in partnership with surgeons. Design Verification & Validation : .P...Show moreLast updated: 6 days ago
    • Promoted
    Geotechnical Engineer

    Geotechnical Engineer

    JobotPleasanton, CA, US
    Full-time
    Long time established Geotechnical engineering firm seeks Engineer!.This Jobot Job is hosted by : Aaron Erickson.Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" buttonand sending...Show moreLast updated: 10 days ago
    • Promoted
    • New!
    Senior Gas Project (Plant) Engineer

    Senior Gas Project (Plant) Engineer

    PG&E CorporationSan Ramon, CA, US
    Full-time
    Requisition ID # 167097 .Job Category : Engineering / Science .Job Level : Individual Contributor.Business Unit : Gas Engineering. Gas Operations is on a mission to become the safest, mo...Show moreLast updated: 4 hours ago
    • Promoted
    Traffic Control Flagger

    Traffic Control Flagger

    U S Traffic Control WestGilroy, CA, US
    Temporary
    Traffic Control West is hiring! Now accepting applications for experienced traffic flaggers.Traffic Control West was founded by roadway workers to protect roadway workers.We have 20 years of experi...Show moreLast updated: 6 days ago
    • Promoted
    Senior R&D Engineer, Med Device (Fremont)

    Senior R&D Engineer, Med Device (Fremont)

    Eliassen GroupFremont, CA, US
    Part-time
    BUSINESS PROBLEM, CONTEXT & INITIATIVE DESCRIPTION.Our client is a privately held medical device company based in Northern California growing rapidly in the development of disease-modifying therapi...Show moreLast updated: 6 days ago
    • Promoted
    Verification and Validation Engineer / Senior V&V Engineer (Santa Clara)

    Verification and Validation Engineer / Senior V&V Engineer (Santa Clara)

    Bayside SolutionsSanta Clara, CA, US
    Full-time +2
    Verification and Validation Engineer / Senior V&V Engineer.Conduct design verification and validation testing for product development activities. Support all technical aspects of the product and instr...Show moreLast updated: 6 days ago
    • Promoted
    RF / Microwave Test Technician

    RF / Microwave Test Technician

    Ultimate StaffingMorgan Hill, CA, US
    Permanent
    Ultimate Staffing is hiring for an amazing company in Morgan Hill, CA! This company is a global pioneer for producing the world's first wireless telephone network. Direct Hire or Contract-to-Hire.PT...Show moreLast updated: 2 days ago
    • Promoted
    Verification Validation Engineer, Medical Device (Fremont)

    Verification Validation Engineer, Medical Device (Fremont)

    SciProFremont, CA, US
    Part-time
    This is not a software role • • •.The focus will be mechanical / medical device testing and V&V protocols through simulated use studies in partnership with surgeons. Design Verification & Validation : .P...Show moreLast updated: 6 days ago
    • Promoted
    Verification Validation Engineer, Medical Device (San Francisco Bay Area)

    Verification Validation Engineer, Medical Device (San Francisco Bay Area)

    SciProSan Francisco Bay Area, US
    Part-time
    This is not a software role • • •.The focus will be mechanical / medical device testing and V&V protocols through simulated use studies in partnership with surgeons. Design Verification & Validation : .P...Show moreLast updated: 6 days ago
    • Promoted
    Border Patrol Agent - Experienced (GL9 / GS11)

    Border Patrol Agent - Experienced (GL9 / GS11)

    U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionDavenport, CA, United States
    Full-time
    Check out these higher-salaried federal law enforcement opportunities with the U.Your current or prior law enforcement experience may qualify you for this career opportunity with the nation's premi...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago