Autonomy Engineer - Planning and Controls at Skydio (Zurich, Switzerland)
Skydio· Zurich, Switzerland·
Role details
Skydio at a glance
Autonomous drones and flight software for public safety, infrastructure inspection, and national security, all designed and assembled in the USA.
Skydio builds autonomous drones (the X10, indoor R10, and defense-grade X10D), docks that let them fly and recharge unattended, and the Skydio Cloud software that plans missions and manages fleets. The whole platform runs on the company's own computer-vision autonomy, so drones avoid obstacles and fly without a trained pilot. It sells to public safety agencies, infrastructure operators, and defense forces.
$340M+ raised · latest: Series F · $110M · 2026 ($4.4B valuation) · backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, IVP, Next47
Summary
Develop and implement core motion planning software and low-level controllers for autonomous drones. Design new motion planning strategies, define system interfaces, and collaborate with UX teams to establish interaction paradigms.
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: The planning algorithms running onboard the vehicle define its behavior, giving our drones their character. You will contribute to the development and implementation of the core motion planning software, touching everything from the low-level stabilization and control, to high level, task specific frameworks.
How you'll make an impact:
- Conceive, design, implement, simulate, evaluate, and fly new motion planning strategies
- Work across the software system to define the right data and interfaces for successful motion planning
- Develop, tune, and evaluate low level controllers
- Work with the UX team to explore and define planning/UI boundaries for new interaction paradigms
What makes you a good fit:
- Experience writing software that controls real hardware, e.g. grasping / manipulation of a robotic arm, self-driving cars, any kind of mobile robot
- Configuration and free space representations
- Modern and classical control design methods
- Dynamic programming
- Non-linear optimization
- Solid software engineering foundation and a commitment to writing clean, well architected code
- High proficiency in C++
#LI-PG1
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 e-verify.gov
Why work at Skydio
- Purpose-driven impact – work on tech that “makes our world safer and more efficient” (autonomous drones for first responders, search & rescue, battlefield awareness).
- Cutting-edge engineering – stack spans AI/robotics, computer vision, cloud, mobile, aerodynamics, sensors, and hardware; described as “the Mount Everest of technology.”
- Collaborative culture – “intense but rewarding”; teams include world-class engineers, special forces operators, and industry experts.
- Hybrid/office – headquarters in San Mateo (Bay Area) with manufacturing in Hayward; satellite offices in Boston, Japan, and India. Many engineering roles are on-site or hybrid, but some positions list remote (US) availability.
- Notable perks – no explicit perks listed, but culture emphasizes real-world impact, cross-functional work, and autonomy to solve hard problems.