Senior Aerodynamics Engineer
Palo Alto, CA
Engineering – Aeromechanical Engineering /
Full-time (Exempt) /
On-site
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, the first light eVTOL to fly manned missions and enter the consumer market.
Efficient, compact, and simple, Pivotal vehicles are designed for a wide range of consumer, public service, and defense applications. Our distinctive tilt-aircraft architecture and scalable platform have been in development, preparing to enter the market for over 10 years. We recently announced our next-generation aircraft, the Helix, planned for general release and scalable production in 2025.
Mobility is one of the most highly-valued areas of technology investment today. This is the right company, in the right space, the right strategy, at the right time. We invite you to join our amazing team and grow with us.
The Aeromechanical team at Pivotal is looking for a Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to join our dynamic and innovative team. In this position you will be responsible for leading several of the subsystem design of our eVTOL aircraft and mentor other engineers in the team. This is a critical role in the development of our technology and the successful candidate will be instrumental in bringing our eVTOLs to market.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to the design, analysis, and flight test of current and future eVTOL platforms
- Own CFD for both current and future eVTOL platforms
- Contribute to the development of CFD processes to perform accurate vehicle aerodynamic simulations
- Develop and maintain detailed design documentation
- Participate in the development of test plans and subsystem testingIdentify and resolve technical issues and risks
- Collaborate with other teams to ensure the mechanical systems are integrated and optimized and comply with the product requirements
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or related field
- 5+ years of experience in mechanical design and development, preferably in the aerospace or aviation industry
- 3+ years of experience in aerodynamics working on complex aerospace systems
- Detailed knowledge of mechanical design, surfacing, simplification, and data management within CAD software, preferably with CATIA V5/V6 in 3DX platform
- Solid understanding of CFD modeling and techniques
- Proficiency with CFD software tools such as STAR-CCM, ANSYS or similar
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong leadership skills and ability to mentor junior engineers
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace or related field
- Experience with eVTOL or other electric aircraft
- Experience with Dassault SIMULIA FMK software
- Experience with low fidelity aerodynamics tools (XFLR5, OpenVSP, etc)
- Experience with rotor-dynamics and propeller design
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.
$123,000 - $195,000 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.
