---
title: 'Staff Manufacturing Test Engineer at Skydio'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-manufacturing-test-engineer-skydio-hayward-california-9xyxsdp6tdbc'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-17'
---

# Staff Manufacturing Test Engineer at Skydio

- **Company:** [Skydio](https://feeny.ai/companies/skydio)
- **Location:** Hayward California, United States
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-08-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-17
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/skydio/69c45009-3ec2-44f1-950a-e65bb24310ac

## 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: We are looking for a hands-on technical engineer for our manufacturing team to help bridge manufacturing to engineering organizations. You will have a deep understanding of HW and SW design skills and use them daily to collect and analyze manufacturing data, drive action items based on data (yield, retest, test time) and improve efficiency of the line and quality of the final product. Skydio builds complex flying robots and our goal is to ensure high quality and efficiency at our internal and external manufacturing sites. We have developed a robust software platform that models and tracks the manufacturing process, runs and tracks tests on the line, and ultimately ensures the quality and performance of each and every Skydio product made. Your team will design and build manufacturing test hardware and software to meet the demands of a growing hardware portfolio and customer base.

How you'll make an impact:

- Take ownership of end-to-end manufacturing test readiness for an entire product line, ensuring that Skydio customers receive the highest-quality devices.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with product development, manufacturing operations, and software teams to collect requirements and iteratively roll out a robust test sequence based on data and feedback.
- Design and implement new test equipment (in-house or with third-party partners) to ensure scalable and reliable manufacturing via automation.
- Lead investigations to resolve production issues, leveraging Skydio's in-house manufacturing execution system (MES) to analyze historical data from the factory and determine a root cause.
- Keep software quality high with code reviews and hardware-in-loop continuous integration.
- Look at a process and ask, "How can this be eliminated or made faster, more reliable, scalable, and less human-dependent?" - and then make that happen.

What makes you a good fit:

- 10+ years engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, with 5+ years focused on NPI test development. You know first hand what it takes to reliably build a product, and you have some war stories to tell of problems you solved.
- Strong hands-on coding experience in Python (required) for test automation and process tooling.
- Experience defining and setting testing framework/strategy for new products, able to work with cross functional partners to flesh out what is critical to quality, working collaboratively, and not just requesting requirements
- Demonstrated ability to conduct detailed root cause and failure analysis for test and equipment issues. Come to the interview ready to tell us about a tricky problem you investigated and solved.
- Creative problem-solver with a passion for developing practical solutions.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills across hardware, software, and operations teams.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, growth-stage environment, balancing immediate execution with long-term scalability.

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 $196,000 - $257,000*. 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-JC1

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

- [Deployment and Support Engineer (Japan)](https://feeny.ai/job/deployment-and-support-engineer-japan-skydio-tokyo-5k4e0306bbwr) — Tokyo, Japan
- [Senior Autonomy Engineer - Computer Vision](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-autonomy-engineer-computer-vision-skydio-san-mateo-california-zsk915tyc15j) — San Mateo California, United States
- [Recruiting Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/recruiting-coordinator-skydio-san-mateo-california-p70p43jgenyh) — San Mateo California, United States
- [Camera & Imaging Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/camera-imaging-intern-skydio-tampere-5nf75hb914wh) — Tampere, Finland
- [Senior Software Engineer, React Native](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-react-native-skydio-san-mateo-california-svekex2k4atx) — San Mateo California, United States
- [Business Systems Analyst, Netsuite](https://feeny.ai/job/business-systems-analyst-netsuite-skydio-san-mateo-v07ymbkwk59j) — San Mateo, CA
- [Product Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/product-counsel-skydio-san-mateo-california-887h7hfs748n) — San Mateo California, United States
- [Senior Software Engineer - Mobile Platform](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-mobile-platform-skydio-san-mateo-california-vbkd2m2wkvzr) — San Mateo California, United States
- [Senior Operations Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-operations-systems-engineer-skydio-hayward-california-8y8y2qe0539a) — Hayward California, United States
- [Senior Data Analyst, Analytics](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-data-analyst-analytics-skydio-san-mateo-california-44c19c4xvdbb) — San Mateo California, United States