Systems Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

Location: San Mateo, California, United States Department: R&D Employment Type: Intern Location Type: Remote

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.

About the team

We develop autonomous flying robots for professional media capture, commercial inspection, and situational awareness from customer use case analysis to requirements definition, product development, factory bringup, and validation through mass production

We work directly with subsystem technology vendors and cross functionally internally with hardware, embedded, and autonomy teams to develop vehicle, controller, and docking architectures including subsystem architectures such as imagine, ranging, compute, motor control, communication, sensing, and payloads.

We build and maintain our in-house tools for system & subsystem level characterization, development, validation, and manufacturing

We use Linux, Mac, and Windows based tools for hardware & software development, system & subsystem integration, as well as testing

About the role: We are looking for a System Design Engineer Intern to drive current and future system & subsystem architectures that meet Skydio’s product vision, including subsystem development and system integration. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with experience in one of Skydio’s core focus areas who is passionate about developing new technology for autonomous flying robots.

How you'll make an impact

Collaborate with embedded, hardware, wireless, software, and autonomy teams to derive specifications and develop subsystem architectures consisting of mechanical assemblies, electronics, and embedded software

Develop methods to simulate, quantify, analyze, and present proposals and designs for platforms & subsystems as well as collaborate on prototyping efforts

Drive architecture specifications down to component level selection and development

What makes you a good fit

Good software development skills with an ambition to write clean and efficient code in Python and C/C++

Some experience in embedded systems development

Excellent written skills for clear reporting of data analysis and conclusions

Experience working on systems that integrate some combination of imaging, ranging, advanced compute, motor control, communication, sensing, or payloads

Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions.

Compensation: The hourly rate for this position is $47/hr for Undergrad, $53/hr for Graduate students, and $70/hr for PhD students*. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Interns are eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company’s policies and eligibility criteria.

• Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position’s location.

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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.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by 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/