Intern - Autonomy - Path Planning

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 early 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.

Summary:   The Autonomy team at Pivotal develops advanced autonomy capabilities for our aircraft, enabling safe, precise, and reliable mission execution from takeoff to landing. We are seeking an Autonomy Intern – Path Planning to support the development of intelligent navigation and motion-planning algorithms for autonomous robotic systems to develop path planning algoirithms for our Helix platform.     In this role, you will collaborate with autonomy and GNC engineers to design, implement, and evaluate planning algorithms that operate effectively in dynamic, real-world environments. This internship is well-suited for students or early‑career engineers interested in robotics, autonomy, and deploying planning systems on real platforms. 

Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States and willing to work onsite at our HQ office in Palo Alto, CA.

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.

Responsibilities Design and implement path planning and trajectory generation algorithms for autonomous systems.

Develop and evaluate motion planning solutions for our Helix platform in simulation and real-world environments.

Integrate planning modules within robotics software frameworks such as ROS-based autonomy stacks.

Work with perception and control modules to enable end-to-end autonomous navigation.

Test and validate planning algorithms through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and flight experiments.

Analyze performance metrics and improve robustness, safety, and computational efficiency.

Collaborate with engineers to deploy autonomy features onto our helix platform.

Qualifications Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Strong programming skills in C++ and/or Python, MATLAB

Knowledge of robot motion planning concepts (e.g., graph search, sampling-based planning, and trajectory optimization).

Familiarity with robotics software frameworks such as ROS.

Understanding robot kinematics, dynamics, and control basics.

Strong problem-solving and debugging skills.

Preferred Qualifications Experience with UAV platforms or aerial robotics.

Familiarity with the PX4 autopilot software stack.

Hands-on experience integrating autonomy software with real hardware systems.

Experience with planning algorithms such as:

A*, D*, RRT / RRT*

Experience with simulation environments (e.g., Gazebo, AirSim).

Familiarity with state estimation, mapping, or perception systems.

Experience running field tests or flight experiments.

Attributes aligned with Core Values 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.

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.

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.

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.