Senior Software Engineer - Mobile Platform

Skydio Inc.; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in stock options

Comprehensive benefits packages

Paid vacation and sick leave

401K savings plan

Job summary

A leading drone technology company based in San Mateo seeks a Senior Software Engineer specializing in mobile application development. In this full-time role, you will work on cutting-edge features involving high-performance C++ and Kotlin programming to enhance drone control. Ideal candidates have extensive Android experience and a passion for innovation in drone technology. Strong mentorship skills are also valued. The annual salary ranges from $170,000 to $240,000, along with comprehensive benefits including relocation assistance where applicable.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years professional software engineering experience, with substantial work in both C++ and Android.
• Deep experience with the Android NDK and JNI.
• Track record of shipping mobile apps that integrate with hardware or robots.

Responsibilities

• Architect and build advanced drone control features.
• Design and improve video streaming and real-time telemetry on Android.
• Mentor engineers and raise the bar on code quality.

Skills

C++

Android (Kotlin/Java)

NDK

JNI

Low-latency network communication

Debugging and profiling

Tools

Android Studio

Vulkan

OpenGL ES

Job description

Senior Software Engineer - Mobile Platform

San Mateo, California, United States - Full-time

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

When a drone understands its surroundings, it can respond to a much richer set of input commands, allowing a user with a mobile device to communicate with the drone at a much higher level than before. We're looking for a Senior Android Engineer who is excited to help architect, develop, and polish native mobile applications for the most powerful real-world tool of our generation. You will own critical subsystems that bridge our C++ autonomy engine with the Android application layer, and mentor other engineers on NDK and systems-level best practices.

About the Team

Skydio's Autonomy Engine is powered by an extensive C++ and Python codebase, which our mobile applications leverage to build user-facing features. Native Android code is primarily written in Kotlin, with some legacy Java classes. The mobile team owns the full stack from native C++ libraries through JNI bindings to the Kotlin UI layer.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Architect and build advanced drone control features that integrate low-latency communication between device, drone, and cloud
• Design and improve video streaming, augmented reality, and real-time telemetry rendering on Android
• Own the JNI/NDK layer that bridges our C++ autonomy libraries with the Kotlin application
• Drive technical decisions on performance-critical paths (memory management, threading, GPU utilization)
• Work cross-functionally with autonomy, firmware, cloud, and product teams to deliver best-in-class drone control applications
• Mentor engineers and raise the bar on native Android and C++ code quality

What Makes You a Good Fit

• 3-5+ years professional software engineering experience, with substantial work in both C++ and Android (Kotlin/Java)
• Deep experience with the Android NDK and JNI — you've built and debugged native libraries that ship in production Android apps
• Proficiency in Kotlin and the modern Android ecosystem (Coroutines, Jetpack/Architecture Components, Gradle)
• Previous experience with one or more graphics APIs such as Vulkan, OpenGL ES, or Metal
• Strong debugging and profiling skills across the native/managed boundary (ASan, Perfetto, Android Studio profilers)
• Experience with low-latency network communication (UDP, WebRTC, or custom protocols)
• Track record of shipping mobile apps that integrate with hardware, IoT devices, or robots

Nice To Haves

• Have shipped mobile apps that integrate with IoT devices or robots
• Experience with Bazel build system
• AOSP or Android platform/framework-level experience
• Familiarity with video codecs (H.264/H.265), camera pipelines, or real-time media processing

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 $170,000 - $240,000*. 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/