Skydio Inc. is hiring: Hardware Test and Reliability Engineer in San Mateo

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:

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!

Autonomous systems integrate electronics hardware, sensing, and real-time AI software. The complexity of these systems, combined with their ability to move freely in the real world, makes development, performance, and reliability testing strategies crucial to delivering a high-quality product.

We are seeking a driven and versatile Hardware Test and Reliability Engineer to help drive safety and reliability initiatives, develop and execute test plans that enable rapid design iteration, and perform robust product validation for state-of-the-art autonomous flying machines serving enterprise, public safety, and defense applications.

How you will make an impact:

• Analyze large datasets from flight telemetry and customer analytics to identify potential problems, perform risk assessments, develop prognostic and condition-based maintenance protocols, and establish data-driven reliability test specifications.
• Collaborate with product development, embedded software, quality, manufacturing, and suppliers to define and execute comprehensive test strategies from prototyping to volume production, enabling early detection of failure modes in complex electro-mechanical autonomous systems.
• Work with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to perform failure analysis, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and develop process and design mitigations.
• Contribute to design reviews and provide reliability input to mitigate risks from prototypes to customer shipment and beyond.
• Engage in cross-domain collaboration to enhance product reliability and performance in challenging environments.

Useful skills and experience:

• 4+ years of hands-on experience in development, testing, and delivery of highly reliable complex systems.
• Deep understanding of failure physics and risks associated with critical electronics subsystems such as batteries, cameras, compute systems, or sensors.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL for managing and analyzing large datasets, uncovering operational insights.
• Systems engineering approach to problem-solving, with the ability to quickly identify issues across mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
• Hands-on experience with testing, characterization, and failure analysis.
• Strong communication skills to convey hardware reliability insights to cross-functional teams.

Compensation: Our compensation packages include competitive salaries, stock options, and comprehensive benefits. The annual base salary range for this position is $145,000-$195,000, depending on experience and location. Benefits include health insurance, paid time off, sick leave, holiday pay, and a 401(k) plan. Relocation assistance may be available for eligible roles. All employment is subject to applicable laws and company policies.

*Note: Compensation may vary based on location.

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At Skydio, we believe that diversity drives innovation. We foster an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to expanding our network of people, programs, and resources to support an inclusive culture.

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

For US-based roles, Skydio uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. Learn more at https://www.e-verify.gov/

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