Senior Software Engineer

United States·Palo AltoFull-time (Exempt)senior

Software EngineerSoftware Engineering

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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, 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.

Technical Tools

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

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

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

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

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.