Manufacturing Software Intern

Job Description

Here’s a detailed and enriched job description for the Skydio Manufacturing Software Intern role:

About Skydio

Skydio is recognized as the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, a pivotal technology shaping the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team brings together deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and a customer-centric approach. Our mission is to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, ranging from utility inspectors and first responders to soldiers in battlefield scenarios and beyond.

About The Role

At Skydio, we are dedicated to building intelligent flying robots through a combination of innovative design and cutting-edge technology. Our core mission is to make the world more productive, creative, and safe with autonomous flight. We hold a deep belief in the transformative power of drones, and our enterprise focus is already making a significant impact across a wide range of industries globally.

What Makes Skydio Different?

• Our drones boast the best path-planning and obstacle avoidance capabilities, a result of over a decade of R&D in advanced autonomy algorithms.
• We develop all parts of the software stack in-house, including embedded systems, middleware, autonomy, cloud infrastructure, manufacturing infrastructure, and automation.
• We design our own hardware to ensure tight integration with our software, optimizing for maximum performance per gram / per watt.
• We are a U.S. company and proudly manufacture our drones at our factory in California.

About the Internship: Manufacturing Software Team

As an intern on the Manufacturing Software team, you will serve as a core contributor, playing a crucial role in helping us manufacture high-quality drones, docks, and accessories at scale to meet growing customer demands. You will be instrumental in 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 inherently highly cross-functional, operating at the intersection of:

• Backend (Python + Flask)
• Embedded Software (C++/C)
• Frontend (React + Typescript)
• Electrical Engineering (Robotics and Hardware Fixtures)

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

Our Tech Stack

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

Team Project Examples

• Build and maintain a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) system for continuous testing of the hardware and software components of our drones and build systems.
• Design a deployment system for sending code to physical machines all over the globe, even inside challenging and hostile networks, with redundant safety systems.
• Build a visual configuration tool for documenting and changing how mass production processes work and adapt 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 sensors and actuators to minimize operator interaction.

How You’ll Make An Impact (Example Project)

Develop an AI-powered triage system that can inspect drone hardware and suggest which parts need to be repaired. Build a framework that combines LLM agents with our manufacturing API in a loop to test the hardware, and compare results against a growing library of root cause failures and suggested reworks.

What Makes You a Good Fit

• You love having fun building great products and enjoy working on systems that involve both hardware and software.
• You are very comfortable with Python and have strong coding fundamentals.
• You’re a patient troubleshooter, comfortable asking for help when you need it, and giving help whenever you can.
• 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

The hourly pay for this position is $47/hr*. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. In addition to base salary, Skydio full-time employees are eligible to enroll in our benefit plans and take advantage of a variety of incentives and stipends.

For some positions, the pay may be dependent upon the individual’s regional location.

Diversity & Inclusion / EEO Statement

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/