--- title: 'Staff Scrum Master – Embedded Software & Firmware at Pivotal' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-scrum-master-embedded-software-firmware-pivotal-palo-alto-27e932e1s0g6' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-15' --- # Staff Scrum Master – Embedded Software & Firmware at Pivotal - **Company:** Pivotal - **Location:** Palo Alto, CA - **Compensation:** $150k–$215k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-09-18 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-15 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/pivotal/b434907e-6dfb-468b-8de3-6e6b767b013f ## 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. ## About the job Pivotal is seeking a Scrum Master to support the development and delivery of embedded software and firmware for our next-generation aircraft. This role will work closely with firmware, software, systems, hardware, DevOps, and verification teams to establish clear priorities, maintain execution cadence, identify and remove blockers, and drive work from definition through integration and verification. This is a hands-on execution role in a fast-paced aerospace development environment. The successful candidate will understand how software is actually developed, integrated, tested, and released in complex hardware products and will be comfortable working across low-level embedded software, device drivers, firmware, automated test, DevOps infrastructure, and aircraft integration. The Scrum Master will own the operating rhythm of the team while helping engineering leadership maintain visibility into scope, schedule, dependencies, risk, and delivery. ## Responsibilities - Lead Agile/Scrum execution for embedded software, firmware, DevOps, and software verification teams, including sprint planning, daily standups, backlog refinement, reviews, retrospectives, and release planning. - Partner with engineering leads and product owners to maintain a prioritized, actionable backlog with clearly defined scope, acceptance criteria, dependencies, and completion criteria. - Drive work to closure by identifying blockers, establishing owners and due dates, and following actions through completion. - Maintain development plans and execution status across Jira, GitLab, Smartsheet, and Microsoft Project, ensuring that detailed team execution aligns with program-level milestones. - Coordinate development activities spanning embedded firmware, low-level software, hardware abstraction layers, device drivers, communications interfaces, bootloaders, diagnostics, DevOps, test automation, and software verification. - Track dependencies between software, electrical hardware, systems engineering, GNC, test, manufacturing, and aircraft integration teams. - Support release planning, build and integration schedules, regression testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, aircraft testing, and production software releases. - Work with engineering teams to define and maintain appropriate Definition of Ready and Definition of Done criteria, including code review, testing, documentation, integration, and verification requirements. - Use GitLab and Jira data to monitor sprint health, backlog maturity, development throughput, defects, aging work, and release readiness. - Identify schedule, resource, technical, and integration risks early and ensure they are communicated and actively managed. - Support defect triage and prioritization across development, integration, verification, and flight-test activities. - Facilitate cross-functional technical discussions when dependencies or competing priorities prevent execution. - Continuously improve team processes while avoiding unnecessary ceremony or administrative overhead. - Help engineering leadership translate program milestones into executable software development plans and provide clear, fact-based status against those plans. - Promote accountability, transparency, and predictable execution while maintaining the flexibility required in a rapidly evolving aircraft-development program. ## Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience. - 5+ years of experience supporting software or firmware development teams in aerospace, automotive, robotics, autonomous systems, industrial controls, or another complex hardware/software environment. - 3+ years of experience as a Scrum Master, technical program manager, software project manager, engineering project manager, or similar execution-focused role. - Strong working knowledge of Jira and GitLab, including backlogs, issues, boards, releases, defects, and development workflows. - Experience developing and maintaining integrated schedules using Smartsheet and/or Microsoft Project. - Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle, including requirements, architecture, implementation, code review, continuous integration, integration testing, verification, release, and defect management. - Experience working with embedded software or firmware teams and enough technical understanding to follow discussions involving low-level software, drivers, hardware interfaces, communications protocols, and software/hardware integration. - Experience coordinating software verification, automated testing, regression testing, and release readiness. - Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, dependencies, and deadlines simultaneously. - Ability to communicate clearly with engineers, functional managers, program leadership, and other cross-functional stakeholders. - Demonstrated ability to identify execution problems early and drive teams toward resolution rather than simply reporting status. ## Preferred Qualifications - Experience developing aircraft, automotive, robotics, autonomous systems, or other safety-critical products. - Experience working directly with embedded C/C++, Python, RTOS-based systems, device drivers, bootloaders, or hardware abstraction layers. - Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, build systems, automated testing, Git workflows, branching strategies, and release management. - Experience with GitLab CI/CD or comparable DevOps environments. - Experience coordinating Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), bench testing, vehicle integration, or flight-test activities. - Familiarity with requirements and verification management tools such as Jama. - Understanding of requirements traceability, verification methods, configuration management, and change control. - Familiarity with aerospace or automotive software development standards and practices, including DO-178C, ARP4754A, ISO 26262, ASPICE, or similar frameworks. - Experience managing software defects and technical debt alongside new feature development. - Scrum Master, PMI-ACP, PMP, CSM, PSM, or similar certification. 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 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. ## 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 - [Manager, Configuration Management](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-configuration-management-pivotal-palo-alto-p2w6sebxrm1q) — Palo Alto, CA - [GNC Model-Based Design Engineer (Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/gnc-model-based-design-engineer-contract-pivotal-california-4tg13fxk1k3t) — California - [GNC Engineer - Navigation](https://feeny.ai/job/gnc-engineer-navigation-pivotal-palo-alto-49hs7gjfdsa6) — Palo Alto, CA - [GNC Engineer - Controls](https://feeny.ai/job/gnc-engineer-controls-pivotal-palo-alto-z7qjt9r47nxm) — Palo Alto, CA - [eVTOL Flight Instructor I](https://feeny.ai/job/evtol-flight-instructor-i-pivotal-palo-alto-2qzb9fdv8yrk) — Palo Alto, CA - [Battery Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/battery-test-engineer-pivotal-palo-alto-av50kd19fptq) — Palo Alto, CA - [Senior Battery Systems Simulation & Validation Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-battery-systems-simulation-validation-engineer-pivotal-palo-alto-4kyyqz4qwc1j) — Palo Alto, CA - [Senior Systems Engineer – GNC & Flight Controls](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-engineer-gnc-flight-controls-pivotal-palo-alto-yrzdedcvrgy0) — Palo Alto, CA - [Full Stack Data Engineer - Internal Flight Data Applications](https://feeny.ai/job/full-stack-data-engineer-internal-flight-data-applications-pivotal-palo-alto-99396c8rp9f1) — Palo Alto, CA - [Data Engineer - Flight Data (contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/data-engineer-flight-data-contract-pivotal-palo-alto-m8df0pcpa7zs) — Palo Alto, CA