--- title: 'Manufacturing Training Program Manager at Skydio' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-training-program-manager-skydio-hayward-california-1wq7q3yc9mza' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-10' --- # Manufacturing Training Program Manager at Skydio - **Company:** [Skydio](https://feeny.ai/companies/skydio) - **Location:** Hayward California, United States - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-19 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/skydio/30e6972f-afe4-46d2-b453-9f93cf700006 ## 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](https://www.skydio.com/solutions/energy-and-utilities) to [first responders](https://www.skydio.com/solutions/public-safety), [soldiers in battlefield scenarios](https://www.skydio.com/solutions/national-security/tactical-isr), and [beyond](https://www.skydio.com/solutions). About the Role: Skydio is seeking a Manufacturing Training Program Manager to build and scale our manufacturing talent development programs. This role combines operational excellence with workforce strategy, ensuring employees receive exceptional onboarding and technical training while developing long-term partnerships that create sustainable manufacturing talent pipelines. You will own the manufacturing training ecosystem—from learning management systems and training effectiveness to workforce partnerships, public funding opportunities, and hiring programs. Working cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Production, Engineering, Recruiting, HR, Quality, and external partners, you will build the systems and relationships that enable Skydio's continued manufacturing growth. How You’ll Make an Impact: Manufacturing Training & Workforce Development - Own the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of manufacturing training programs across production operations. - Schedule, coordinate, and administer instructor-led, on-the-job, and digital training for manufacturing employees. - Design and continuously improve onboarding programs that accelerate employee readiness and productivity. - Develop cross-training strategies that increase workforce versatility and manufacturing flexibility. - Evaluate training effectiveness through KPIs including certification rates, time-to-proficiency, quality performance, safety metrics, and production readiness. - Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, EHS, and Quality to develop standardized work instructions, training curricula, and certification programs for compliance, new products, and manufacturing processes. - Develop professional development programs and training to Learning Management & Program Management - Act as the primary Manufacturing System Owner for the LMS, overseeing the integrity of qualification tracking, employee certifications, training documentation, and reporting to ensure constant audit readiness. - Develop scalable training infrastructure, processes, and reporting dashboards to support a growing manufacturing workforce. - Ensure training documentation meets quality, regulatory, and operational requirements. - Manage training schedules, instructor coordination, employee certifications, and training records. Workforce Partnerships & Talent Pipeline - Lead partnerships with public agencies, workforce development organizations, educational institutions, and community partners to strengthen Skydio's manufacturing talent pipeline. - Serve as the primary liaison with colleges, universities, workforce boards, apprenticeship programs, and strategic manufacturing partners. - Develop and implement workforce development programs that reduce dependence on staffing agencies through sustainable talent pipelines. - Coordinate candidate referrals, workforce program participation, onboarding logistics, internships, apprenticeships, and hiring initiatives. - Organize and support hiring events, manufacturing tours, career fairs, and workforce engagement activities in partnership with Recruiting, Production, and external organizations. Public Funding & Strategic Initiatives - Identify and pursue workforce development grants, manufacturing incentives, tax credits, and public funding opportunities that support manufacturing workforce growth. - Manage administrative requirements associated with public funding, including reporting, documentation, compliance, and performance metrics. - Monitor workforce development initiatives and manufacturing programs to identify strategic partnership opportunities. - Build scalable systems for managing workforce partnerships, community engagement, and external stakeholder relationships. What Makes You a Good Fit: Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Business, Operations, Manufacturing, Education, Industrial Engineering, Human Resources, or a related field. - 5+ years of experience in manufacturing training, workforce development, operations program management, or a related field. - Experience administering Learning Management Systems (LMS) or enterprise training platforms. - Strong program management experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives. - Experience developing training programs, onboarding systems, and competency-based learning. - Demonstrated success building partnerships with educational institutions, workforce organizations, government agencies, or community partners. - Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously. - Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across technical, operational, and external stakeholders. - Experience using data and metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement. ## Preferred Qualifications - Experience in high-tech manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, electronics, automotive, or medical device manufacturing. - Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence methodologies. - Experience managing workforce grants, apprenticeship programs, or publicly funded workforce initiatives. - Familiarity with California workforce development programs and manufacturing initiatives. - Experience with Workday Learning, Cornerstone, Docebo, or other enterprise LMS platforms. - PMP, Lean Six Sigma, CPTD, APTD, CIT, or ATD certifications are a plus. - Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions. 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 $145,000 - $219,000*. 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. ## #LI-BJ1 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/ ## About Skydio ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Skydio builds autonomous drones and platforms for public safety, critical infrastructure inspection, and national security, enabling safer, smarter, and faster data collection. - **Entity Type**: Private – Series E ($230M raised) - **Headquarters**: San Mateo, California, United States (manufacturing hub in Hayward, CA; satellite offices in Boston, Japan, and India) - **Founded**: 2014 - **Founders**: Adam Bry (CEO) and Abe Bachrach (CTO) – both MIT graduates and co-founders of Google’s Project Wing ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Drone manufacturing, autonomous flight software, public safety / first responder technology, infrastructure inspection, defense / national security - **Target customers**: B2G (government/public safety), B2B (energy, utilities, construction, surveying), and defense organizations - **Mission statement**: “To make the world more productive, creative, and safe with autonomous flight” ## Products & Services - **[Skydio X10](https://www.skydio.com/)**: Flagship autonomous drone with best-in-class sensors, advanced AI, and cloud integration – designed for outdoor inspection, DFR, and site security. - **[Skydio R10](https://www.skydio.com/)**: Indoor-capable, compact drone for tight quarters (e.g., building interiors) with onboard lighting and communications. - **[Skydio Dock for X10](https://www.skydio.com/)**: Remote docking station enabling autonomous launch, landing, and charging – supports unattended mission execution. - **[Skydio Cloud & Software Platform](https://www.skydio.com/)**: End-to-end software for mission planning, live streaming, data processing, and fleet management (includes Drone as First Responder solutions, asset inspection, and mapping). ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Funding**: $230 million raised in a Series E round (led by Linse Capital, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Next47, IVP, DoCoMo, Nvidia, UP.Partners; angel investors include Brendan Iribe, Naval Ravikant, Padma Warrior, Matt Bellamy, Magic Johnson, Justin Timberlake, Kevin Durant). Valuation not publicly disclosed. - **Key Metric**: Over 60,000 drones delivered; “9 figures of annual revenue” (i.e., $100M+) with rapid growth [skydio.com/careers](https://www.skydio.com/careers). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, IVP, DoCoMo, UP.Partners. - **Growth Signals**: Company reports rapid revenue growth; expanding into national security contracts; manufacturing hub in Hayward; global presence with offices in Tokyo, Singapore, Zurich. ## Competitive Advantages - **Purely U.S. based** – designed, assembled, and supported in the USA, meeting strict national security and supply chain standards. - **Deep AI autonomy** – world-leading computer vision and autonomous flight technology, built by a team that pioneered the field at MIT and Google X. - **Full-stack platform** – drones, docks, cloud software, and mission-specific integrations create a locked-in ecosystem that’s hard to replicate. - **Mission-critical trust** – deployed by police departments, defense agencies, and utilities for life-saving and infrastructure-protecting missions. ## Strategic Focus - **Scaling drone-as-a-first-responder (DFR)** programs across public safety agencies. - **Expanding defense & national security** verticals (survivable sUAS, battlefield situational awareness). - **Deepening enterprise inspection & mapping** offerings for energy, telecom, and civil infrastructure. - **International growth** – offices in Japan, India, Singapore, Switzerland, and Finland. ## Why Work Here - **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. ## Sources 1. [skydio.com](https://www.skydio.com/) – Main site (products, mission, drone capabilities) 2. [skydio.com/about](https://www.skydio.com/about) – Founders, leadership, and company history 3. [skydio.com/careers](https://www.skydio.com/careers) – Company stats (60k drones, 9-figure revenue, mission, culture, office locations) 4. [linkedin.com/company/skydio](https://www.linkedin.com/company/skydio) – Company description 5. [cbinsights.com/company/skydio/financials](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/skydio/financials) – Funding round details (Series E, $230M) ## Other roles at Skydio - [Flight Test Operator - Data Collection Fixed Term](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term-skydio-san-mateo-california-k39mb134zmn9) — San Mateo California, United States - [Senior RF Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-rf-design-engineer-skydio-san-mateo-california-vvreqa2jdv4e) — San Mateo California, United States - [Test Engineering Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/test-engineering-technician-skydio-san-mateo-california-168k5rrxmgsh) — San Mateo California, United States - [Field Support Representative - Colorado](https://feeny.ai/job/field-support-representative-colorado-skydio-united-states-gmwskmw9gthz) — United States - [EHS Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/ehs-specialist-skydio-san-mateo-california-gzxemmnq1sm4) — San Mateo California, United States - [Systems Integration and Test Engineer (Senior to Staff Level)](https://feeny.ai/job/systems-integration-and-test-engineer-senior-to-staff-level-skydio-san-mateo-05357sqhznad) — San Mateo California, United States - [Systems Integration and Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/systems-integration-and-test-engineer-skydio-san-mateo-california-6jy1mpatrsrm) — San Mateo California, United States - [Flight Test Intern - Summer 2027](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-test-intern-summer-2027-skydio-san-mateo-california-9js5hytbcpa1) — San Mateo California, United States - [Product Design Engineer Intern - Summer 2027](https://feeny.ai/job/product-design-engineer-intern-summer-2027-skydio-san-mateo-california-4rrh55j2aq90) — San Mateo California, United States - [Autonomy Engineer Intern, Computer Vision / Deep Learning, Summer 2027](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomy-engineer-intern-computer-vision-deep-learning-summer-2027-skydio-san-asjd2k15p11a) — San Mateo California, United States