Pivotal12d ago

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Autonomy Engineer II - Robotics

United States·Palo AltoFull-time (Exempt)mid

OtherAutonomy Engineer

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Quick Summary

Overview

Pivotal is the leader in the emerging market of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. We design, develop,

Technical Tools

OtherAutonomy 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 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 Role

~4 min read

The Autonomy team develops advanced autonomous capabilities for our aerial platforms, enabling safe and intelligent mission execution from takeoff to landing. We are seeking an Autonomy Robotics Engineer to design, develop, and deploy navigation, planning, and decision-making systems that operate reliably in dynamic and uncertain environments.

You will collaborate with perception, GNC, flight software, and hardware teams across the full autonomy stack — from simulation and algorithm development to flight testing and deployment on operational aircraft.

The ideal candidate combines strong robotics fundamentals with hands-on experience building and deploying autonomous systems on real-world robotic platforms. Experience with autonomous drones, PX4, and eVTOL aircraft is highly desirable.

Autonomy & Path Planning

Design and develop autonomous navigation and mission planning systems for aerial robotic platforms.

Develop trajectory generation, path planning, and obstacle avoidance algorithms for dynamic environments.

Implement behavior planning, mission management, and autonomous decision-making frameworks.

Develop autonomous capabilities for waypoint navigation, target tracking, landing, and mission execution.

Evaluate and integrate state-of-the-art robotics and autonomy algorithms into operational systems.

Develop production-quality software for autonomous robotic systems.

Implement autonomy algorithms in real-time embedded and Linux-based environments.

Optimize autonomy software for performance, reliability, and deployment on resource-constrained platforms.

Contribute to software reviews, testing frameworks, and continuous integration processes.

Hardware Integration & Flight Testing

Integrate autonomy software with flight controllers, onboard computers, sensors, and communication systems.

Support hardware bring-up, system integration, and debugging activities.

Conduct software-in-the-loop (SITL), hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), and flight testing.

Analyze flight test data and identify opportunities to improve autonomy performance.

Collaborate with hardware and flight operations teams to support deployment and field testing.

Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.

2+ years of industry experience in robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace, or related fields.

Strong proficiency in C++ and Python.

Experience developing autonomy, navigation, or robotic control systems.

Strong understanding of motion planning, path planning, and autonomous decision-making algorithms.

Experience with robotics middleware such as ROS or ROS2.

Experience developing software in Linux environments.

Hands-on experience integrating software with robotic hardware systems and sensors.

Experience with simulation and testing frameworks for autonomous systems.

Experience with MATLAB and Simulink for algorithm development, modeling, and simulation.

Master's degree or PhD in Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience with autonomous aircraft, UAVs, drones, or eVTOL systems.

Experience with PX4, ArduPilot, or similar autopilot frameworks.

Experience developing autonomy for multicopters, VTOL aircraft, or fixed-wing platforms.

Knowledge of state estimation, localization, SLAM, and sensor fusion techniques.

Experience with trajectory optimization, model predictive control (MPC), or advanced planning algorithms.

Experience with NVIDIA Jetson, embedded Linux systems, or edge computing platforms.

Familiarity with Gazebo, Isaac Sim, AirSim, or other robotics simulation environments.

Experience supporting flight testing and operational deployments.

At Pivotal, you'll work on some of the most challenging problems in autonomy, perception, and intelligent aircraft systems. You'll have the opportunity to develop technologies that move rapidly from concept to flight testing and deployment, working alongside a multidisciplinary team of engineers pushing the boundaries of autonomous aviation.

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.