Pivotal Systems

Pivotal Systems

Quality Engineer

Palo Alto, CA

Sponsorship not specified$101k-$125kDetected 69 days ago
GD&TMechanical DesignAerospace EngineeringFirewallCommunicationProblem Solving

About the role

  • Pivotal is the leader in the emerging market of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
  • 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.

Responsibilities

  • Lead quality assurance activities for composite manufacturing processes including pre-preg layup, cure, machining, bonding, and assembly.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain inspection criteria for composite parts, assemblies, and tooling.
  • Perform detailed inspections of composite components, interpreting engineering drawings, tolerances, and specifications.
  • Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to design quality into processes, identifying root causes and implementing corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
  • Manage non-conformance reports (NCRs), Material Review Board (MRB) actions, and support disposition decisions.
  • Develop work instructions, process control plans, and inspection procedures tailored to composite production.
  • Support supplier quality engineering for incoming composite materials and outsourced components.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives, statistical process control (SPC), and risk-based quality planning.
  • 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.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience in aerospace composites manufacturing and quality engineering.
  • Deep knowledge of pre-preg composite layup, autoclave/oven cure cycles, NDI/NDT methods (UT, X-ray, visual), and part acceptance criteria.
  • Familiarity with AS9100D, ISO 9001, and aerospace quality systems.
  • Experience with MRB, NCR, and corrective action processes.
  • Proficiency with quality tools (e.g., SPC, FMEA, PFMEA, 8D).
  • Skilled at interpreting GD&T, engineering drawings, and material specifications.
  • Strong technical problem-solving ability with a root-cause-driven approach.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced R&D-to-production transition environment.
  • 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.

Compensation

  • $101k-$125k

Company info

  • Our distinctive tilt-aircraft architecture and scalable platform have been flying for over 10 years.
  • We are seeking a Quality Engineer with a strong background in composites manufacturing and inspection to join our Quality & Manufacturing Engineering team.

This listing is sourced directly from Pivotal Systems's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.