In 1943, he enrolled at the École normale supérieure, and then became the debate secretary for the French National Assembly until 1974.
In 1968, he founded the Union des écrivains with Jean-Pierre Faye and Michel Butor.
After leading the union until 1973, Pingaud led the group Secrétariat à l'Action Culturelle of the Socialist Party until 1979.
From 1983 to 1987, Pingaud served as a cultural adviser for the Embassy of France in Cairo.
From 1990 to 1993, he was president of the Maison des écrivains et de la littérature in Paris.