UX Product Designer, National Security

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

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Skydio is seeking a UX Designer to craft intuitive interfaces for autonomous drones and AI‑driven missions. You will map critical user journeys across web, mobile, and control stations, partnering with Design Leadership, PMs, and Engineers to deliver trusted, high‑quality experiences.

You’ll own complex features, build high‑fidelity prototypes, and incorporate field insights from on-site visits to sharpen decision workflows for operators in demanding environments.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of hands-on UX/UI product design experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating high-fidelity craft and complex systems.
• Proficient in translating requirements into design specs for engineering.
• Experience designing for technical tools used in real-world environments.
• Strong communication and ability to defend design decisions with data.

Responsibilities

• Own UX execution for key features on core platforms.
• Design interfaces for remote operations and autonomous robots.
• Create high-fidelity prototypes to test assumptions quickly.
• Engage in field visits to capture on-site insights.
• Collaborate with Design Leadership, PMs, and Engineers.

Skills

UX/UI design

Prototyping

User research

AI tools

Cross-functional collaboration

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.

The Challenge

Our products are used by professionals with a lot on the line, operating in rugged environments where every second counts. Their mission is clear: find the missing person, get the lights back on, keep the roads open, and keep the good guys safe. Our mandate is to solve one of the most complex problems of our time: how to build autonomous flying robots that help our customers get the job done, no matter what.

If reading that excites you, we want to talk to you.

Skydio isn’t just building drones; we are defining the future of autonomous robotics. To win, our products must be more than just capable, they must be undeniably reliable.

About The Role

As a UX Designer, you are a passionate craftsperson who embraces how technology is shifting the design discipline. You are comfortable taking ownership of complex features, collaborating effectively with Design Leadership and Product Managers, and executing with an incredibly high bar for detail.

You will work closely with Design Leadership, Product Managers, and Engineers to map out Critical User Journeys (CUJs) and build cross-platform experiences (Web, Mobile, Ground Control Stations) that our customers in the national security/defense vertical will implicitly trust.

You will be instrumental in designing intuitive, high-quality user interfaces that bridge complex autonomous systems with streamlined tactical workflows, improving operator decision‑making.

Location:

This position is based onsite at least 3 days/week at Skydio HQ in San Mateo, CA. We offer relocation assistance if needed.

How You’ll Make An Impact:

• Design for Trust: Own the UX execution for key features on our core platforms (including remote operations). You will build interfaces for autonomous flying robots that make the operator trust the job will get done, ensuring every interaction reinforces confidence, reliability, and system transparency.
• Solve Unsolved Problems: Tackle complex challenges where there is no existing playbook. You will think pragmatically and creatively to design interfaces for remote hardware sensing, 3D spatial awareness, and AI-driven missions.
• Communicate & Defend Rationale: Effectively communicate user needs and frame complex problems. You will present your design solutions clearly, defending your rationale with user data and system logic to align with Engineering and Product Management.
• Elevate the Craft: Bring an uncompromising attention to detail and craftsmanship to the team. You will build high-fidelity prototypes to test assumptions quickly, leveraging AI tools as a seamless part of your daily process to move faster and explore wider.
• Learn from the Field: Participate in on‑site visits with our customers to deeply understand their chaotic, high-stress environments. Bring that "ground truth" back to the studio to inform your design decisions.

What Makes You a Great Fit (Your Superpowers):

• Proven Execution: 3-6 years of hands‑on UX/UI product design experience, including translating product requirements into clear design concepts and specifications that Engineering has built and shipped.
• First‑Principles Problem Solver: You are an out‑of‑the‑box thinker, doer, and builder who loves operating in ambiguous spaces where no existing design patterns exist. You actively explore solutions by conducting research, building prototypes, and running user studies to get continuous feedback.
• Uncompromising Craftsmanship: You have a portfolio of work that clearly demonstrates an exceptionally high bar for visual design, complex systems architecture, and attention to detail.
• Comfortable with Complexity: You have experience designing for technical tools being used in the real world. We'd love to see portfolios featuring: mapping or navigation apps, tools that connect to physical devices (IoT/hardware), or complex, multi‑step workflows.
• AI Fluency & Boundary‑Blurring: You actively integrate AI into your daily workflow, but more importantly, you are excited by how AI is blurring the traditional lines between the functional roles of Product, Engineering, and Design. You use these tools to operate as a true hybrid product thinker, leveraging AI to rapidly build prototypes, accelerate user studies, and tell a more compelling product story to drive outsized impact.
• Prototyping Chops ("You Build to Think"): You can quickly mock up interactive prototypes to prove out concepts before Engineering writes a line of production code.

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/