Product Design Engineer (Early Career)

Department: R&D

Location: San Mateo, 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’s mechanical systems are the backbone of reliable autonomous flight. An intelligent flying machine depends on world-class engineering and an eye for detail while optimizing for simplicity; you will help architect, develop, and refine the structures, mechanisms and solutions that bring autonomous flight to a broad audience in a highly collaborative environment.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Design mechanical parts and assemblies for our aircraft, ground stations, and accessories, working alongside senior engineers on new architectures and taking ownership of components as you grow.

• Partner with electrical engineers to integrate custom PCBAs, flex circuits, antennas, and cable harnesses into mechanical designs.

• Work with vendors on technical questions and part reviews, in collaboration with our operations and supply chain teams.

• Plan and run engineering tests, and use analysis to evaluate design trade-offs and verify that your parts perform as intended.

• Follow your designs through the full development cycle, from early prototypes to pre-production and mass production, and help our manufacturing teams with assembly processes and quality and inspection criteria.

• Investigate and debug failures, digging into the details to find root causes.

What you’ll get:

• Mentorship from experienced mechanical engineers and regular design reviews that help you build judgment quickly.

• Hands-on exposure to the whole hardware lifecycle on products that ship at scale.

• A growing scope of ownership as you show what you can do.

What makes you a good fit:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field.

• 0-3 years of hands-on product or hardware experience through internships, co-ops, student design teams (e.g., Formula SAE, robotics, rocketry), research, or personal projects.

• Strong engineering fundamentals and the ability to use them to solve open-ended design problems.

• Proficiency in 3D CAD (CATIA, SolidWorks, NX, Creo, or similar), including building multi-part assemblies.

• Familiarity with common manufacturing processes such as injection molding, CNC machining, casting, or sheet metal, and how they affect design decisions.

• Ability to create clear mechanical drawings, or eagerness to build this skill with mentorship.

• Curiosity, attention to detail, and a love of well-designed hardware.

• A collaborative mindset and comfort working in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift.

Nice to have:

• Experience with CATIA specifically.

• Exposure to GD&T, tolerance analysis, or FEA.

• Experience with composites or electromechanical systems (drones, consumer electronics, robotics, etc.).

• Experience rapidly prototyping with 3D printing, machine shop tools, or similar.

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 $132,000 - $175,000*. 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/