Quality Engineer

Pivotal•Palo Alto, CA

38d•$124,000 - $163,000•Onsite

About The Position

Pivotal is a leader in the electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft market, designing, developing, and manufacturing light eVTOL aircraft. The company is known for its BlackFly aircraft, the first light eVTOL to fly manned missions and enter the consumer market. Pivotal's aircraft are efficient, compact, and simple, with a distinctive tilt-aircraft architecture and scalable platform that has been flying for over 10 years. The company is rapidly progressing toward the general release and scalable production of its next-generation aircraft, the Helix, in early 2026. Pivotal is seeking a Quality Engineer with a strong background in composites manufacturing and inspection to join its Quality & Manufacturing Engineering team. This role is for a hands-on manufacturing engineer passionate about process quality, with an understanding of pre-preg composite layup and curing, and the ability to ensure compliance with AS9100D, ISO 9001, and aerospace best practices. The position will drive product quality from prototype through production, ensuring aircraft meet high standards of airworthiness and reliability.

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.
Skilled at interpreting GD&T, engineering drawings, and material specifications.
Experience with MRB, NCR, and corrective action processes.
Strong technical problem-solving ability with a root-cause-driven approach.
Proficiency with quality tools (e.g., SPC, FMEA, PFMEA, 8D).
Comfortable working in a fast-paced R&D-to-production transition environment.

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.
Ensure compliance with AS9100D and ISO 9001 requirements across production operations.
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.
Mentor technicians and operators in inspection techniques and quality best practices.