Software Engineer

Software Engineer - Autonomy Infrastructure, Systems and Tools San Mateo, California, United States - Full-time 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 Role: We are looking for an experienced software engineer to lead the development of tools that support every stage of the autonomy lifecycle. You will be responsible for building and evolving core internal platforms that allow engineers to test new ideas, diagnose system behaviors, and understand complex interactions between software and the physical world. This role combines backend systems work with front-end visualization, and requires a strong sense of software design, developer experience, and a passion for enabling others through effective tooling. The systems you build will be used daily by autonomy developers, test engineers and other stakeholders across the company. Areas of Responsibility: - Design and build robust replay and analysis systems that enable engineers to inspect and reproduce recorded autonomy behavior, with fine-grained control over system state, perception outputs, and decision-making at every stage of the stack. - Develop scalable infrastructure for automated testing and failure triage, expanding our simulation and log-driven test coverage while accelerating root-cause analysis through automated log processing and diagnostics. - Operate at the interface between autonomy software and core robotics middleware, defining clear APIs, data contracts, and performance requirements for messaging, state propagation, and coordination across subsystems, while partnering closely with downstream teams to support their implementation and integration. - Design and implement high-quality developer infrastructure and tools that prioritize reliability, performance, and usability, enabling rapid iteration, safe experimentation, and sustained velocity across the autonomy organization. What You’ll Do: - Lead the design and implementation of scalable tools used across autonomy development and testing workflows. - Collaborate with autonomy, QA, and infrastructure teams to gather requirements, align on priorities, and deliver impactful tooling. - Build tools that streamline stages of the robotics development process. - Take ownership of internal services from concept through deployment and monitoring. - Contribute to the long-term vision and roadmap for developer tools that improve debugging efficiency, test coverage, and system understanding. Qualifications: - 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering, ideally in robotics, simulation, or systems development. - Proficiency in C++ and Python, with a strong grasp of performance-sensitive and multi-threaded systems. - Experience with simulation frameworks, time-synchronized data systems, or state-machine-driven applications. - Familiarity with structured data visualization, log processing, or developer tooling design. - Strong communication skills and the ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams. - Comfort operating in a fast-paced environment where requirements evolve and priorities shift. Bonus Experience: - Experience building performance-sensitive systems (profiling, multithreading, real-time constraints) in robotics, aerospace, automotive, or similar domains. - Exposure to robotics / simulation / physics engines. - Background in telemetry systems, log ingestion pipelines, or automated test environments. - Front-end development skills in modern web frameworks (e.g., React, TypeScript, Three.js, Plotly) with a focus on data interaction and visualization. - Familiarity with distributed systems or cloud-hosted services used to support internal tools and customer applications. Compensation: At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, 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 $170,000 - 240,000*. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company’s group health insurance plans. Regular, full-time employees 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. *For some positions the pay may be dependent upon the individual's regional location. 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/