Senior Flight Test Engineer - Software Automation

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

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health insurance

Paid vacation time

Sick leave

Holiday pay

401K savings plan

Job summary

Skydio is seeking an experienced Software Automation Engineer to lead the Flight Test Automation Pod and scale validation for autonomous flight. You will design automated test systems spanning CI, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and real-world flight, incorporating AI-supported workflows for test generation and analysis.

You will define test coverage metrics, reduce manual effort, and drive test strategy in collaboration with software, flight test, and reliability teams.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in software testing, automation or test infrastructure
• Track record of setting technical direction and driving adoption across teams
• Strong Python skills with maintainable test frameworks
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD systems and test integration
• Experience applying AI and agentic workflows to software testing
• Ability to define and measure test coverage across complex systems
• Proficiency with mobile and browser automation tools (Appium, Playwright, Selenium)
• FAA Part 107 certification within first 60 days of employment

Responsibilities

• Lead the Flight Test Automation Pod: set direction, own roadmap, mentor engineers
• Own automated test workflows across mobile, browser, and hardware/software systems
• Establish CI test pipelines for automatic validation of every build
• Design extensible test framework scalable across teams
• Apply AI-assisted workflows to test generation, failure triage, and flight log analysis
• Define test coverage metrics tied to requirements and risk
• Partner with software, flight test, and reliability leads to shape testing plans

Skills

Python

CI/CD

Automation testing

AI workflows

Test framework design

Test coverage

Tools

Appium

Playwright

Selenium

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

Autonomous drones are complex systems operating in uncontrolled environments. Onboard autonomy and hardware have to work together on every flight, along with the mobile and browser interfaces that control them. Testing these systems is one of the most critical parts of delivering a reliable product.

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
• Own automated test workflows across mobile, browser, and integrated hardware/software systems, from simulation to real-world flight
• 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
• Proficiency with mobile and browser automation tools (e.g., Appium, Playwright, Selenium)
• 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. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. 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 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.

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/