Advanced / NPI Quality Engineer

Department: Operations

Location: Hayward, California, United States

Employment Type: FullTime

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 seeking an Advanced / NPI Quality Engineer to own product quality from concept through ramp, on one product, end to end. Most companies split this into an advanced quality role that does design-phase prevention and an NPI role that runs the builds. We combine them, because the person who wrote the DFMEA should be the one on the line when the failure mode shows up. You'll set the targets, facilitate the risk analysis, qualify suppliers and measurement systems, run build quality, and sign off, or hold, the gates.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

• Concept and planning: set CTQ characteristics and quality targets (yield, DPMO, AFR), write the quality plan, and classify the BOM by risk with PPAP levels assigned per part.

• Design / EVT: facilitate the DFMEA to verified closure, contribute to design reviews and DFM, and run EVT build quality including first article inspection and failure analysis.

• Process / DVT: build the linked PFMEA and control plan, complete MSA on key gauges, and review supplier PPAP submissions.

• Validation / PVT: run capability studies and run-at-rate with production operators, approve the internal PPAP, and stand up SPC with real reaction plans.

• Launch: design the safe-launch plan with exit criteria, run daily quality reviews, drive 8D on escapes, and monitor field AFR.

• Handoff: transfer a complete record set to sustaining quality and feed learnings back into the FMEA libraries and supplier requirements.

What Makes You a Good Fit:

Required

• Bachelor's in an engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.

• [5+] years in quality engineering on physical products, including one product carried personally from design through mass production.

• Hands-on DFMEA/PFMEA facilitation, control plans actually used on a line, and MSA/gauge R&R/capability studies you can run yourself.

• Working knowledge of PPAP and root cause methods (8D, 5-why, fault tree) with verified closure.

• Equally comfortable on the factory floor and in a design review.

Preferred

• Consumer electronics manufacturing (SMT, final assembly, RF test, cosmetic standards) and experience working through a CM/ODM.

• Supplier quality (audits, sub-tier risk, PCN), IPC-A-610/J-STD-001/ESD S20.20, and reliability testing (HALT, AFR modeling).

• Data fluency in SPC/yield analysis ([JMP / Minitab / Python / SQL]) and pulling your own data from the MES.

Nice to Have

• CQE or Six Sigma Black Belt; APQP under IATF 16949 or ISO 13485.

• FCC/CE, UN 38.3, or IP ingress compliance exposure.

• 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: 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 $145,000 - $257,000*. 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.

*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/