---
title: 'Internship, Flight Test Engineer (Summer 2027) at Pivotal'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/internship-flight-test-engineer-summer-2027-pivotal-palo-alto-dkv5ak5m8twk'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-12'
---

# Internship, Flight Test Engineer (Summer 2027) at Pivotal

- **Company:** Pivotal
- **Location:** Palo Alto, CA
- **Employment:** internship
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-11-09
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/pivotal/67927cb0-cf1a-4775-93be-61db3efe684b

## Job description

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 aircraft the world's first light eVTOL to fly manned missions and enter the consumer market.

Efficient, compact, and simple, Pivotal aircraft are designed for a wide range of consumer, public service, and defense applications. Our distinctive tilt-aircraft architecture and scalable platform have been flying for over 10 years. Last year we announced our next-generation aircraft, the Helix, which is rapidly progressing toward general release and scalable production in 2026.

Mobility is one of the most highly-valued areas of modern technology investments. This is the right company, in the right space, the right strategy, at the right time. If you are ready for adventure, we invite you to join our amazing team and grow with us.

## Responsibilities

- Support the flight test team in a range of technical and administrative roles, including flight test planning, flight readiness reviews, flight briefs/debriefs and post-flight analysis
- Design components for the flight testing operation
- Fabricate components using in-house and outsourced manufacturing including 3D printing, machine shop and CNC routering
- Complete and finalize bill of materials of hardware-in-loop assemblies
- Create documentation and signage for service procedures hardware-in-loop assemblies
- Support service of hardware-in-loop assemblies to ensure hardware meets configuration standards
- Participate and support experimental flight testing as a crew member

## Qualifications

- Currently enrolled in a Bachelors or Masters degree program from an accredited university
- Demonstrated project experience in your area of focus
- Interest in eVTOL industry and personal flight
- Ability to learn quickly and multi-task in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment
- Strong verbal and written communication, organization, and leadership skills
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Able to work onsite in Palo Alto, CA

Attributes aligned with Core Values

- Safety Above All: Demonstrates a proactive safety mindset by embedding safety into daily work, identifying and mitigating risks, encouraging open dialogue about safety concerns, and continuously improving practices and protocols.
- Customer Focus: Puts customers at the center of every action by understanding their challenges, delivering meaningful value, and supporting their success.
- Work Better Together: Seeks and values diverse perspectives, builds cross-functional relationships, and fosters trust through empathetic, fact-based communication and commitment to shared decisions.
- Be the Pilot: Drives results with clarity and purpose by focusing on what matters most, adapting to change, taking initiative, and owning outcomes.
- Embrace the Unknown: Navigates ambiguity with resilience and bold thinking, challenges the status quo, and combines innovative ideas with practical approaches to overcome obstacles and drive progress.
- Respect for People: Fosters a high-performance culture grounded in respect, professionalism, and support by balancing 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 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.

## About Pivotal

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Pivotal builds the world’s first commercially available eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, the Helix, for personal, public safety, and defense applications.
- **Entity Type**: Private (funding stage not publicly disclosed)
- **Headquarters**: Palo Alto, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing; eVTOL aircraft development.
- **Target customers**: B2B (public safety, defense, EMS, special operations, rescue missions) and B2C (personal aviation).
- **Mission or purpose**: “To open the sky for everyone” by redefining what’s possible in aviation through safe, electric vertical flight.

## Products & Services
- **[Helix eVTOL Aircraft](https://www.pivotal.aero/about-us)**: A single-seat, fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing electric aircraft. Designed for personal use, public safety, and defense missions. Available for purchase through the company website.
- **Hybrid Propulsion Demo (Gen 3 Aircraft)**: Next-generation platform with hybrid propulsion capabilities, currently in development and testing.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue estimated at **$10 million** (source: LinkedIn company data)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly listed; key executives include CEO Ken Karklin, CFO Jon Campagna, and Chief People Officer Alison Roelke.
- **Growth Signals**: 27% year-over-year headcount growth (114 employees, +34 YoY); 50+ Pivotal-certified pilots; over 8,000 flights completed; 26 active job postings (up 225% year-over-year); expansion into hybrid propulsion and defense contracts.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First-mover advantage** as the first commercially available eVTOL aircraft.
- **Safety-first culture** – “We commit to safety as if a loved one is on board.”
- **Vertical integration** of design, manufacturing, flight operations, and maintenance.
- **Strong engineering talent pool** – hiring from top aerospace and tech companies (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Joby, Amazon, Cruise).

## Strategic Focus
- Scaling production of the Helix for personal and commercial markets.
- Entering public safety and defense verticals (EMS, special operations, contested logistics).
- Advancing hybrid propulsion technology for longer range and mission flexibility.
- Growing the flight operations team and pilot certification program.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Values-driven environment emphasizing safety, customer focus, respect, and innovation. “Dreamers and doers” with a collaborative, hands-on approach.
- **Workplace**: On-site in Palo Alto, CA (no remote/hybrid option mentioned in job postings).
- **Engineering focus**: Open roles in embedded software, autonomy, computer vision, aeromechanical verification, power electronics, and flight test.
- **Transparent pay structure**: Published salary bands for all levels (e.g., PB 9: $62k–$93k; PB 19: $150k–$250k; PB 23: $375k–$625k).
- **Employee rating**: 3.7/5.0 on LinkedIn (31 reviews), with work-life balance scored 4.7/5.0.
- **Impact**: Opportunity to work on a transformative technology that redefines personal and mission aviation.

## Sources
1. [pivotal.aero - Careers](https://www.pivotal.aero/careers)
2. [pivotal.aero - About Us](https://www.pivotal.aero/about-us)
3. [linkedin.com - Pivotal](https://linkedin.com/company/pivotalaero)
4. [jobs.lever.co - Pivotal](https://jobs.lever.co/pivotal)
5. [pivotal.aero - Pay Structure](https://www.pivotal.aero/pay-structure)

## Other roles at Pivotal

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