GNC Model-Based Design Engineer (Contract)

Pivotal; California; Hybrid; USD 139,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401k plans

Job summary

Pivotal is seeking a contract Model-Based Design Engineer II to craft a DO-331 compliant verification framework for the Helix family. You will trace requirements to models, build MIL simulations, and extend unit tests while collaborating with GNC and systems engineers on a remote team.

Strong MATLAB/Simulink skills and DO-178/DO-331 familiarity are required. The role emphasizes automated coverage, CI/CD integration, and robust test strategies in a safety-critical aerospace context.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow.
• Experience writing requirements-based tests using Simulink Test or MATLAB unit tests.
• Experience collecting and analyzing model or code coverage (MC/DC, etc.).
• Experience with requirements traceability using tools such as Jama or DOORS.

Responsibilities

• Trace requirements from Jama to control system models and link to tests.
• Build automated MIL integration test framework to simulate flight missions.
• Develop Simulink Test and MATLAB unit tests; automate coverage reporting.

Skills

MATLAB

Simulink

Stateflow

Python

GitLab CI

Requirements Jama

Model-based design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Jama

DOORS

Job description

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.

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 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.

About the Role

The GNC team at Pivotal develops the flight control and navigation software for our aircraft, including the Helix family, using model-based design in MATLAB and Simulink. We are looking for a contract Model-Based Design Engineer II to help lay the foundation for a DO-331 model-based development and verification process.

You will trace requirements to our control system models, build out an automated mission-level simulation test framework and its test suite, add unit tests, and automate coverage reporting and enforcement in our CI/CD pipeline. You will work closely with the GNC engineers who own the control laws, state machines, and estimators, and with the systems engineers who own the requirements.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with the MathWorks verification toolchain on safety-critical aerospace software, and understands control systems well enough to write meaningful tests for them. This is a fully remote contract position.

Responsibilities

Requirements Traceability

• Trace requirements from Jama to control system models, such as control laws, state machines, and estimators, using Requirements Toolbox.
• Link requirements to tests so traceability and requirements-based test coverage can be reported automatically and used for change impact analysis.
• Flag gaps and ambiguities found while tracing and resolve them with the requirement owners.

Mission-Level Simulation Testing

• Build out our automated model-in-the-loop (MIL) integration test framework, which simulates complete flight missions and checks the results against requirements.
• Develop the test suite on that framework, turning the simulations engineers already run during development into repeatable, automated tests.
• Document the testing workflow and train the team to use it.

Unit Testing & Coverage

• Develop Simulink Test and MATLAB unit tests for control core models and functions, working toward full structural coverage.
• Automate model and code coverage reporting, and add coverage enforcement to the CI/CD pipeline.
• Investigate and help close coverage gaps, including differences between model and code coverage and logic that cannot be exercised.

Model Quality & CI/CD

• Help resolve Simulink Check findings against modeling guidelines, such as the MAB and high-integrity guidelines, so the checks can be enforced in the CI/CD pipeline.
• Improve our GitLab CI/CD pipelines for model-based development, including regression baselines, code generation, and automated reports.
• Contribute to the modeling guidelines and process documentation that support DO-331 objectives.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

Experience

• 2+ years of industry experience in model-based design, verification, or GNC software development, or a Master’s degree with relevant research.
• Hands-on experience with MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow.
• Experience writing requirements-based tests using Simulink Test or the MATLAB unit test framework.
• Experience collecting and analyzing model or code coverage, such as decision, condition, and MC/DC coverage with Simulink Coverage.
• Experience with requirements traceability using tools such as Requirements Toolbox, Jama, or DOORS.
• Working understanding of control systems and state machines, enough to read control law models and write meaningful tests for them.
• Proficiency in MATLAB scripting and Python for test automation.
• Experience with Git and CI/CD pipelines, such as GitLab CI or GitHub Actions.
• Strong written communication and documentation skills, and the ability to work independently on a remote team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing or verifying software under DO-178C and DO-331.
• Experience with Simulink Check and Model Advisor, including writing custom Model Advisor checks.
• Experience integrating Jama with Requirements Toolbox, for example through OSLC.
• Experience with Embedded Coder code generation, software-in-the-loop testing, and MISRA C compliance or Polyspace.
• Experience with Simulink Design Verifier for test generation or property proving.
• Experience automating MATLAB toolchain workflows with Simulink Projects and the Project API.
• Experience with flight control or GNC software for aircraft, UAVs, or eVTOL platforms.
• Experience with agile development workflows and tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools, such as Claude, to speed up test development, coding, and documentation.
• Interest in aviation, RC aircraft, or drones.

Attributes aligned with Core Values

• Safety Above All: Demonstrates a proactive safety mindset by embedding safety into daily work, identifying and mitigating risks, encouraging open dialogue about safety concerns, and continuously improving practices and protocols.
• Customer Focus: Puts customers at the center of every action by understanding their challenges, delivering meaningful value, and supporting their success.
• Work Better Together: Seeks and values diverse perspectives, builds cross-functional relationships, and fosters trust through empathetic, fact-based communication and commitment to shared decisions.
• Be the Pilot: Drives results with clarity and purpose by focusing on what matters most, adapting to change, taking initiative, and owning outcomes.
• Embrace the Unknown: Navigates ambiguity with resilience and bold thinking, challenges the status quo, and combines innovative ideas with practical approaches to overcome obstacles and drive progress.
• Respect for People: Fosters a high-performance culture grounded in respect, professionalism, and support by balancing high expectations with a healthy, collaborative environment and being a trusted, dependable teammate.

$139,000 - $160,000 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.