Software Engineer - Manufacturing Software

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial transportation. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, and operational excellence to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users - from first responders to insurance claims adjusters, utilities, and more!

About the role:

At Skydio, we're dedicated to crafting sophisticated and intelligent flying robots, combining innovative design with cutting-edge technology. Our mission is to make the world more productive, creative, and safe with autonomous flight. We have a deep belief in the transformative power of drones, and our enterprise focus is already making an impact in a wide range of industries across the world.

At Skydio we can make a difference because:

• We integrate advanced AI in drones for safer, effective autonomous flight with obstacle avoidance and predictive algorithms in complex settings.
• We build all parts of the software stack in-house, including embedded systems, middleware, autonomy, cloud infrastructure, manufacturing infrastructure, and automation.
• We are a U.S. company and manufacture our drones at our factory in California.

As a member of the Manufacturing Software and Automation team, you'll be a core contributor, helping us build quality drones (along with associated attachments and accessories) at scale to meet growing consumer demands, turning prototypes into finished products. The processes and tools you build will have a significant impact on the company's scale and success.

This team is highly cross-functional. It sits at the intersection of backend (Python + Flask), embedded software (C++/C), frontend (React + Typescript), and electrical engineering (Robotics and Hardware Fixtures).

If you have strong coding fundamentals, thrive on solving and debugging cross-functional challenges, and are passionate about hardware-software systems, this could be a uniquely rewarding opportunity for learning and professional growth.

Our tech:

• Python + Flask backend + on-machine, Protobufs for IPC and RPC
• React + Typescript frontend
• On-premises containerized Linux client machines and servers, Terraform + AWS backend cloud
• Hardware-In-the-Loop build validation systems
• Internally developed framework for manufacturing and testing operations

Team Project Examples:

• Build and maintain a Hardware-In-the-Loop system for continuous testing of the hardware and software components of our drones and build systems.
• Design a  deployment system for sending code physical machines all over the globe, inside of challenging and hostile networks, with redundant safety systems.
• Build a visual configuration tool for documenting and changing how mass production processes work and change on the fly.
• Develop our robot calibration process that can distinguish between hardware and software failures and suggest next steps for assembly rework.
• Create a dashboard that visualizes the state of the factory to help engineers debug faster.
• Develop an automated test fixture that assesses drone sensors and actuators to minimize operator interaction.

How you'll make an impact:

• Architect our next-generation production systems, from front to back end to infrastructure.
• Design secure, efficient, observable, and robust software for dealing with real-time and historical data generated by the factory.
• Keep the factory running smoothly by writing clear code that is easy to debug.
• Look at a process and ask, "How can this be made faster, more reliable, scalable, and less human-dependent?" - and then make that happen.

What makes you a good fit:

• You love having fun building great products and enjoy working on systems that involve both hardware and software (0-5 years of experience preferred).
• You are very comfortable with Python and have strong coding fundamentals.
• You are comfortable navigating and delivering within a complex codebase.
• You have demonstrated the ability to take a concept and systematically drive it through the software lifecycle: architecture, development, testing, deployment, and monitoring.
• You’re a patient troubleshooter, comfortable asking for help when you need it, and giving help whenever you can.
• Willingness for light travel - a few days at a time, a few times a year.
• You get excited by How It's Made or Factorio and want to get paid to work on the machine that builds the machines.

Compensation: At Skydio, our compensation packages for full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual base salary range for this position is $160,000 - 210,000*. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success.

*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the candidate's location.

#LI-AS1

At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.

As such, we do not make hiring or other employment-related decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, sex/gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions),  gender identity or expression, age, religion, disability status, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, veteran, military or family status, or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.

For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/