Senior Power Electronics 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, 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 early 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.

As part of the Electrical Engineering team, you will lead the design, manufacturing, and testing of subsystems within Blackfly’s avionics and electronics. This role requires ownership of critical power electronic systems throughout their lifecycle, ensuring they meet performance, reliability, and safety standards. You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position, as we believe a wide variety of skills and backgrounds are key to fostering innovation and driving our technology forward.

• Take ownership of multiple electronic assemblies on the aircraft throughout the design lifecycle, including development, validation, and production phases.
• Explore architectural changes and improvements to existing designs to optimize performance and reliability.
• Develop efficient production testing solutions for power electronics and related assemblies.
• Design and coordinate comprehensive design validation testing for electronic systems, sensors, and control electronics.
• Mentor electrical engineers, providing technical guidance and fostering best practices throughout the design and development process.
• Perform root cause analysis, implementing fixes to improve yield, performance, reliability, and manufacturability of electronic assemblies.
• Iterate on existing designs and create innovative solutions to new engineering challenges.
• Develop hardware and firmware for power electronics, propulsion systems, sensors, and control electronics.

• Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
• Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience in power electronics, electrical systems, or related fields.
• Strong experience with PCB layout and schematic capture tools.
• Proficiency in designing and sizing high-voltage power architectures (300V+), including power distribution, energy storage systems, and power conversion.
• In-depth knowledge of common communication protocols such as SPI, UART, and CAN.
• Solid understanding of analog and digital circuit design concepts, including high-voltage and high-current systems.
• Experience in developing and troubleshooting high-voltage systems and components, ensuring safety and compliance with industry standards.
• Skilled in using appropriate lab tools for troubleshooting circuits and high-voltage systems.
• Proficient in troubleshooting firmware in C/C++ environments.

• Experience with aviation electronics standards, architectures, and processes.
• Successfully taken at least one product through the entire development lifecycle, from concept to production.
• Experience with data analysis/aggregation using Python or MATLAB.

• Low and high voltage power electronics design.
• EMI/EMC compliance and testing processes.
• DFMEA and reliability metrics for electronics.
• Experience in prototype and medium-volume manufacturing.
• Familiarity with GPS or UAV sensors.

• Resourceful, curious, and never satisfied with the status quo
• A lean mindset: Always thinking about how to make things more efficient
• A growth mindset: Love learning and being challenged
• Thrive in a fast-moving, stimulating, and supportive team environment
• Strong work ethic and detail-oriented

• The salary range for this role is reflected in Pivotal's Pay Structure  - Pay Bands (PB) 13-17.

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.