Technical Project Manager (contract)

Pivotal•Palo Alto, CA

3d•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. They are known for the BlackFly aircraft, the world's first light eVTOL to fly manned missions and enter the consumer market. Pivotal's aircraft are efficient, compact, and simple, suitable for various applications. Their next-generation aircraft, the Helix, is progressing towards general release and scalable production in 2026. The Technical Project Manager will be responsible for developing, leading, maintaining schedules and budgets, and managing projects related to design changes, test & release, early adopter programs, product launches, and supporting manufacturing development projects. This role requires seamless cross-functional collaboration and comfort with both Scrum/Agile and traditional waterfall project management methodologies. Proficiency with project management tools like Git Lab and MS Project is expected, along with the ability to present to technical groups and executive management. The ideal candidate is tenacious, drives accountability, leverages team strengths, and is committed to finding solutions. A passion for technology, aviation, and the future of personal flight is a plus.

Requirements

5+ years experience in engineering design or test of complex electro-mechanical systems
Background in engineering product development
Three or more years of project leadership experience in the same and/or related industries
Strong knowledge of project management fundamentals.
PMI associated certification or equivalent knowledge and experience
Strong knowledge of Jira and MS Project and use/applicability of implementation
Experience in growth stage companies and larger, best-practice organizations
Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States
Willing to work onsite at our HQ office in Palo Alto, CA.

Nice To Haves

Degreed engineer with hands-on design/development experience that has taken multiple system-level integrated products to manufacturing transition (inclusive of software) and market ramp and has transitioned to project management as a primary discipline
Expert-level proficiency in Jira, including advanced configuration (workflows, schemes, automation, dashboards) to support complex, cross-functional programs
Experience and excels in start-up environments – running New Product Introduction programs while following Pivotal program management process
Experience in aircraft certification and verification / validation
Optimistic and driven, always finds a way
A lean mindset: Always thinking about how to make things more efficient
A growth mindset: Love learning and being challenged
Strong work ethic and detail-oriented
Excellent interpersonal, presentation, communication, and collaboration skills
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.
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.
Navigates ambiguity with resilience and bold thinking, challenges the status quo, and combines innovative ideas with practical best practices to overcome obstacles and drive progress.
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.
Fosters a high-performance culture grounded in respect, professionalism, and support—balancing high expectations with a healthy, collaborative environment and being a trusted, dependable teammate.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage projects, leveraging in Jira / MS Project or similar enterprise project management tools, related to a range of cross-functional initiatives such as design updates, test and release, & product launch
Carry out regular reviews and regular check-ins with task owners and leadership, ensuring to keep activities on track and quickly address new scope, schedule slips and setbacks while finding opportunities to improve time-to-market
Be a champion for project management fundamentals and share your greatest skills with others, empowering others to take ownership
Make sure we are having fun together creating aviation history while maintaining an uncompromising focus on safety of human flight!