--- title: 'Verification Engineer - Aeromechanical (Design & Test) at Pivotal' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/verification-engineer-aeromechanical-design-test-pivotal-palo-alto-9j4ef2advtb7' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-15' --- # Verification Engineer - Aeromechanical (Design & Test) at Pivotal - **Company:** Pivotal - **Location:** Palo Alto, CA - **Compensation:** $115k–$145k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-05-14 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-15 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/pivotal/d1434d84-8a8a-43ec-91c4-18663f3fce99 ## 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. Future Opportunities at Pivotal This is not an active job opening. We’re always interested in connecting with talented professionals as Pivotal continues to grow. By applying, you’re expressing interest in future opportunities with our team. If a position becomes available that aligns with your background and experience, we may reach out to explore the opportunity. The Aeromechanical team at Pivotal is always interested in connecting with a highly skilled and motivated Verification Engineer to support future growth and opportunities within our engineering team. Depending on future business needs, you might take on end-to-end ownership of verification activities for aeromechanical subsystems. You will take requirements through design, test planning, execution, and reporting, working across both test design and physical testing environments. This is a highly cross-functional role that sits at the intersection of requirements, design, test, and validation, and is critical to ensuring the performance, safety, and reliability of our aircraft. ## What You Might Work On - Own verification of aeromechanical components and subsystems from requirement through validation and reporting - Translate verification methods into compliance tests defined acceptance criteria - Design test fixtures using CATIA (3DEXPERIENCE platform), and define the test instrumentation - Generate CAD releases and support fabrication (in-house and external vendors) - Work directly with technicians and suppliers to build test hardware - Develop detailed test plans including environmental and structural testing - Define instrumentation strategies and data acquisition methods - Execute tests in labs and external facilities, troubleshooting issues in real time - Analyze test data, identify failure modes, and drive corrective actions - Produce comprehensive test reports - Support design reviews and cross-functional collaboration - Drive rapid iteration between design and testing ## What We’re Generally Looking For - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field - Experience designing and testing mechanical or aerospace systems - Strong background in CAD and hands-on hardware testing - Experience developing test plans and writing engineering reports - Strong problem-solving and debugging skills ## Preferred Experience - Experience with CATIA V5/V6 or 3DEXPERIENCE platform - Hands-on environmental testing (thermal, vibration, etc.) - Structural testing experience (static, fatigue, lifecycle) - Familiarity with aerospace standards (e.g., DO-160, FAR part23) - Experience designing test fixtures and instrumentation - Experience in prototype or R&D environments 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. 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 - [Staff Scrum Master – Embedded Software & Firmware](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-scrum-master-embedded-software-firmware-pivotal-palo-alto-27e932e1s0g6) — 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