Autonomy Engineer Intern, Simulation & Robotics (San Mateo)

Overview

Skydio is the leading US drone company and a world leader in autonomous flight, a key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer focus to serve a wide range of drone users, from utility inspectors and first responders to soldiers in battlefield scenarios and beyond.

About the Role

The core of the system is the computer vision algorithms that let drones understand their surroundings. As a Research Intern, you will work alongside members of the core software development team and take direct ownership of a project that meaningfully advances the team's products.

You will architect and implement algorithms that run on every Skydio-powered drone, working with a computer vision and deep learning team whose researchers have advanced the state of the art in academia and industry. If you have a strong foundation in math, theory and software development, and want to help build the next generation of autonomy algorithms and bring them into real products, we would like to hear from you.

Areas of Responsibility

• Core Simulator Architecture: Design, implement and evolve the foundational architecture of the Skydio Simulator so it scales across vehicle types, environments and use cases.
• Physics and Dynamics: Improve and extend physics models for vehicle motion, environment interactions and dynamic agents.
• Sensor and Hardware Simulation: Build high-fidelity simulations of cameras, IMUs and other onboard components, including timing, noise and hardware behavior.
• Autonomy Stack Integration: Run and validate the full Skydio autonomy stack in simulation, keeping simulated and real-world behavior consistent.
• Feature Development on Top of the Core: Implement simulator capabilities that open new workflows for customers and internal autonomy engineers, from training scenarios to advanced testing modes.
• Performance and Fidelity: Profile, optimize and improve simulator performance while continuing to push realism and accuracy.

What You Will Do

• Develop core simulator components in C++ and Python, working close to real-time constraints.
• Collaborate with autonomy, perception and controls engineers to align simulation behavior with real-world systems.
• Debug complex interactions between physics, sensors, autonomy logic and rendering.
• Help shape the long-term technical direction of the simulator as both a product and an internal platform.
• Contribute to documentation and shared understanding of how the simulator works internally.

Bonus Experience

• Robotics, simulation, game engines or real-time systems.
• Physics engines, sensor modeling or hardware abstraction layers.
• Multithreaded or low-latency system design.
• Experience debugging systems that span software and physical behavior.

Compensation varies by degree level and may also vary based on the position's location. Pay is based on factors including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge and experience. Skydio full-time employees may enroll in benefit plans and receive various incentives and stipends.

At Skydio, diversity drives innovation. The company is committed to growing its network of people, programs and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.

Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. For U.S. positions, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.