Senior Flight Test Engineer - Software Automation

Telemetry Today LLC; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Relocation assistance

Paid vacation time

Sick leave

Holiday pay

401K savings plan

Job summary

Skydio in the United States is seeking an experienced Software Automation Engineer to lead the Flight Test Automation Pod and scale validation of autonomous flight. You will design and own automated test systems running from CI through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop and real-world flight.

This role sits in Product Integrity and shapes how quickly and reliably Skydio ships new capabilities. You will mentor engineers, define test coverage metrics, and partner with software, flight test and

Qualifications

• 6+ years in software testing, automation or test infrastructure.
• Experience in cross-functional hardware/software environments.
• Strong Python skills and test framework design.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Flight Test Automation Pod and set technical direction.
• Establish and own CI test pipelines that validate every build automatically.
• Design an extensible test framework that scales across teams.
• Apply AI-assisted workflows to test generation and flight log analysis.
• Define test coverage metrics tied to requirements and risk.

Skills

Python

Automation testing

Test infrastructure

Cross-functional leadership

AI workflows

Tools

CI/CD systems

Test frameworks

Job description

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 Automation Engineer to lead the Flight Test Automation Pod and scale how we validate autonomous flight. You will design and own automated test systems that run from CI through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop and real‑world flight. You’ll bring AI-supported workflows into how tests are written, run and analyzed, and define how we measure test coverage, so every release ships with confidence.

This position is part of the Product Integrity organization, which owns product quality from NPI through end of life across hardware and software. Your work will directly shape how quickly and reliably Skydio ships new capabilities to customers.

How you'll make an impact:

Lead the Flight Test Automation Pod: set technical direction, own the roadmap, and mentor engineers who contribute to automation

Establish and own CI test pipelines that validate every build automatically and give developers fast, actionable feedback

Design an extensible test framework that scales across teams, making it easy for engineers to add and maintain their own tests

Apply AI-assisted and agentic workflows to test generation, failure triage and flight log analysis to speed up issue detection

Define test coverage metrics tied to requirements and risk, and use them to drive our test strategy, reduce manual effort, and focus flight time where it matters most

Partner with software, flight test, and reliability engineering leads to shape how testing is planned and prioritized

What makes you a good fit:

6+ years in software testing, automation or test infrastructure, ideally in a cross‑functional and complex hardware/software environment

A track record of setting technical direction and driving adoption across teams

Strong Python skills, with experience building maintainable, well‑structured test frameworks and infrastructure

Hands‑on experience with CI/CD systems and integrating automated tests into build pipelines

Experience applying AI and agentic workflows to software development or testing

Proven ability to define and measure test coverage across complex systems

Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is required for this position

Bonus: background in aviation, drones, embedded systems, robotics simulation, or hardware-in-the-loop testing

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.

The annual base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $200,000*.

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 receive the following benefits:

• Regular, full‑time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company's group health insurance plans.
• Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles.
• Paid vacation time
• sick leave
• holiday pay
• 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.

#LI-AS1

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/