Senior Program Manager - Aerospace Systems
Palo Alto, CA
Engineering – General Engineering /
Full-time (Exempt) /
Hybrid
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.
We’re seeking a Senior Program Manager with strong engineering instincts to help guide cross-functional execution across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and flight systems. You’ll be responsible for driving critical programs toward flight readiness and certification milestones, with deep engagement across engineering, manufacturing, test, and field deployment.
This role is best suited to someone who has previously led complex technical development — as a Program Manager, Engineering Manager, or Senior Engineer — and thrives on high ownership, fast learning, and clear accountability. If you’ve worked on IC engine systems, FAA certification programs, hardware builds, or aerospace system integration, you’ll feel right at home.
Responsibilities
- Own the schedule, scope, and delivery of major cross-functional programs, including those with hardware, firmware, and regulatory deliverables.
- Work closely with Engineering, Flight Test, and Operations teams to maintain technical awareness and translate requirements into actionable execution plans.
- Run daily, weekly, and milestone-based processes to maintain team accountability and technical clarity.
- Identify risks, track mitigations, and maintain issue closure across departments.
- Support FAA certification or experimental flight activities with structured documentation and coordination.
- Bring engineering rigor and organization to development programs — especially where subsystems must integrate, build, and test in tight timelines.
- Help define and refine Pivotal’s product development process: scheduling, requirements management, change control, test planning, and validation.
- Serve as the connective tissue between technical execution and company-level goals — ensuring that teams stay aligned and on track.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or a technical discipline.
- 6–12 years of experience in aerospace, automotive, robotics, or complex electromechanical systems.
- Proven success leading multi-disciplinary programs with schedule ownership and milestone accountability.
- Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and ability to guide engineers and managers on scoping and technical decisions.
- Experience with mechanical or powertrain systems (bonus for IC engines or hybrid systems).
- Familiarity with FAA Part 23, Part 27, or experimental flight development (bonus for certification experience).
- Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
- Hands-on mentality and willingness to deep-dive when needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Former Engineering Manager or Lead Engineer ready to step into a high-impact PM role.
- Experience managing subcontractors, supply chain, or hardware vendor deliverables.
- Familiarity with Jira, Confluence, 3DX/PLM tools, and Gantt-based scheduling.
- Comfortable in a startup environment with ambiguity, fast changes, and high accountability.
Attributes to 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.
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.
