Senior Software Engineer

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 early 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.

As part of the Firmware Engineering team, you will drive the development and maintenance of the pilot display systems used for our eVTOL aircraft.

Responsibilities

• Application & System Ownership
• Own and maintain a full-stack GUI application running on embedded Linux
• Develop and enhance core functionality in C++
• Design and maintain UI components (Qt/QML is a strong plus)
• Debug issues across application, OS, and hardware layers
• Optimize performance in resource-constrained environments
• Multimedia & Hardware Integration - Integrate and manage camera systems
• Develop and maintain GStreamer-based video pipelines
• Implement and optimize map rendering on embedded platforms
• Product & UX Contribution - Collaborate on feature definition and product decisions
• Improve user workflows and interaction models
• Contribute to UI/UX design decisions and implementation
• Translate operational needs into intuitive interface behavior
• Balance technical constraints with user experience quality

Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in modern C++
• Solid experience with Linux systems and embedded Linux environments
• Proficiency in Python for scripting and tooling
• Experience integrating cameras and video pipelines
• Experience with GStreamer or similar multimedia frameworks
• Experience running or optimizing maps on embedded devices
• Strong debugging and systems-level thinking

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Qt and/or QML
• Experience contributing to UX/UI design decisions
• Familiarity with GPU acceleration or graphics pipelines
• Background in real-time or safety-critical systems
• Strong ownership mentality — takes responsibility for the full system
• Product-minded engineer who thinks about usability, not just functionality
• Ability to move between system-level debugging and high-level feature design
• Comfort working cross-functionally with hardware, firmware, and product teams
• Practical, clear communicator

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.

$175,000 - $186,000 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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.