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PivotalGNC Model-Based Design Engineer (Contract)
Pivotal is a manufacturer of light electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, recognized for producing the BlackFly and the upcoming Helix aircraft. The organization focuses…
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About This Role
Pivotal is a manufacturer of light electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, recognized for producing the BlackFly and the upcoming Helix aircraft. The organization focuses on modern mobility solutions spanning consumer, defense, and public service sectors. The Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) group is currently seeking a contract Model-Based Design Engineer II to establish foundational processes for DO-331 model-based verification and development. This fully remote contract position centers on…
Job Description
Pivotal is a manufacturer of light electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, recognized for producing the BlackFly and the upcoming Helix aircraft. The organization focuses on modern mobility solutions spanning consumer, defense, and public service sectors. The Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) group is currently seeking a contract Model-Based Design Engineer II to establish foundational processes for DO-331 model-based verification and development.
This fully remote contract position centers on bridging requirements with control system models, building automated mission-level simulation test frameworks, and automating coverage enforcement inside the CI/CD pipeline. The selected professional will collaborate directly with systems engineers managing requirements as well as GNC engineers responsible for estimators, state machines, and control laws.
Ideal candidates possess hands-on proficiency with the MathWorks toolchain for safety-critical aerospace software alongside a practical understanding of control systems. This role suits professionals skilled in MATLAB, Simulink, and verification tools who can operate independently within a distributed engineering team.
Responsibilities
- Connect specifications from Jama to control system models using Requirements Toolbox for automatic traceability and impact analysis
- Identify and resolve requirement ambiguities and gaps alongside requirement owners
- Construct automated model-in-the-loop integration test frameworks simulating full flight missions
- Establish a repeatable test suite based on existing development simulations and train team members on the workflow
- Create Simulink Test and MATLAB unit tests targeting full structural coverage for core control functions
- Automate model and code coverage collection, reporting, and enforcement within the CI/CD pipeline
- Address Simulink Check issues to align with MAB and high-integrity modeling guidelines
- Enhance GitLab CI/CD pipelines supporting regression baselines, automated reporting, and code generation
Requirements
- Minimum of two years of professional background in model-based design, verification, or GNC software development, or an equivalent Master's degree with relevant research
- Practical expertise using MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow
- Demonstrated history of authoring requirements-based tests utilizing Simulink Test or MATLAB unit test frameworks
- Familiarity collecting and reviewing model or code coverage using Simulink Coverage
- Practical knowledge of requirements traceability platforms including Jama, DOORS, or Requirements Toolbox
- Foundational comprehension of control systems and state machines to read models and write effective tests
- Working fluency in MATLAB scripting and Python for test automation tasks
- Familiarity with Git version control and CI/CD pipelines such as GitLab CI or GitHub Actions
- Strong written communication abilities and the capability to execute tasks autonomously on a distributed team
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline
- Background designing or validating software under DO-178C and DO-331 standards
- Familiarity with Simulink Check, Model Advisor, and custom check creation
- Experience linking Jama and Requirements Toolbox via OSLC
- Competence in Embedded Coder code generation, software-in-the-loop testing, MISRA C compliance, or Polyspace
- Background utilizing Simulink Design Verifier for property proving or test generation
- Proficiency automating MATLAB toolchain workflows via Simulink Projects and the Project API
- Prior exposure to GNC or flight control software for UAVs, aircraft, or eVTOL systems
- Acquaintance with agile tools including Confluence and Jira
- Usage of AI-assisted tools like Claude for accelerating code, test, and documentation tasks
- Personal enthusiasm for drones, RC aircraft, or aviation
Core Skills
Benefits
- Medical coverage
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- 401k plans
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
Is this a remote position?
Yes, the posting specifies that this is a fully remote contract position.
What is the employment type for this role?
This is a contract position.
What salary is offered for this role?
The posting specifies a salary range of $139,000 to $160,000 a year.
What core technical tools are required?
Candidates must have hands-on experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Stateflow, requirements traceability tools, version control like Git, and CI/CD pipelines.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.