Pivotal · 3 months ago
Senior Embedded Systems Engineer – Verification & Validation Focus
Palo Alto, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$151K/yr - $194K/yr
5+ years expPivotal is the leader in the emerging market of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, renowned for their innovative designs and commitment to safety. They are seeking an experienced Embedded Systems Software Engineer to lead the development and verification of safety-critical flight software, working across hardware interfaces and avionics networks. The role requires a strong background in DO-178C compliance and embedded V&V testing to support the future of aviation.
AerospaceAir TransportationAutonomous VehiclesManufacturing
Responsibilities
Develop, test, and maintain embedded software in C/C++, Rust, and/or Ada for safety-critical systems on custom avionics and powertrain hardware
Design and implement real-time control logic for propulsion, thermal management, and power distribution systems
Execute full life-cycle development from software architecture and requirements to integration, test, and certification artifacts
Author and maintain certification-compliant software documentation, including Software Verification Cases & Procedures (SVCP), Software Configuration Management Plans (SCMP), and Requirements Traceability Matrices (RTM)
Develop and execute unit tests, integration tests, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) tests, and automated regression tests
Integrate and debug software on RTOS and embedded Linux platforms; perform kernel-level diagnostics and performance optimization
Support flight test operations through rapid diagnostics, telemetry toolchains, and field-deployable updates
Collaborate with systems, electrical, and GNC teams to ensure clean interfaces and complete system-level validation
Drive rigorous software verification and validation strategies aligned with DO-178C and ARP4754A processes
Lead or contribute to software reviews, including PDR, CDR, TRR, and FRR milestones
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
5+ years of experience in embedded software engineering for aerospace, automotive, or robotics systems
Deep experience with C/C++, embedded Linux, and/or RTOS (e.g., VxWorks, Green Hills)
Strong understanding of real-time systems, deterministic behavior, and low-level debugging
Demonstrated experience writing and executing embedded software verification plans
Familiarity with avionics communication protocols (CAN, ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553, SPI, I²C, UART)
Proficiency with software requirements management, test case development, and formal documentation
Preferred
Experience supporting FAA certification efforts under DO-178C Level C or higher
Familiarity with Simulink, MATLAB, Speedgoat, and HIL test platforms
Prior work with autonomous systems, electric propulsion, or thermal management software
Experience with Git-based workflows, CI/CD for embedded targets, and safety-critical DevOps
Familiarity with digital engineering platforms such as DOORS-NG, JIRA, Jama, or 3DEXPERIENCE
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
401k plans
Company
Pivotal
Pivotal develops and builds antonymous, electric propulsion VTOL aircraft for people & cargo in consumer, defense & public safety markets
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Pivotal has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (8)
2024 (6)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Kenneth Karklin
Chief Executive Officer
Jon Campagna
Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
2025-11-19
2025-09-17
Company data provided by crunchbase