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Skydio

Product Design Engineer Intern - Summer 2027

San Mateo, California, United States
Level
Intern
Work type
Hybrid · San Mateo

Not stated in the posting: salary, visa.

Open. First seen 9 September 2026.

Apply on the company's site →

About the role

Skydio's standard text

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:

As a member of the Product Design Team, you will work on meaningful projects that add value to Skydio and our users. You will solve complex, interesting problems and learn from a team of world-class engineers and researchers.

How you'll make an impact:

  • Conquer challenges creatively with a scrappy mindset
  • Design parts for next generation prototypes
  • Chase down the root cause of mission critical issues on existing or developing products
  • Find solutions with engineering design or manufacturing process changes
  • Validate your solutions with hands-on prototyping, testing, and data collection
  • Communicate with a cross functional team of engineers and suppliers around the globe
  • Present your work in design reviews and learn from senior members of our team

What makes you a good fit:

  • Relentless curiosity.
  • Ability to leverage rock solid fundamentals to create exceptional designs for complicated products.
  • Passion for elegant mechanical design at the highest and lowest levels of detail that will delight customers.
  • Experience with 3D CAD. Familiarity with CATIA is highly valued.
  • Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions.

Bonus skills for the job (This experience is great to have, but we are also happy to teach you):

  • How to design for a broad array of manufacturing processes including: injection molding, metal casting, CNC machining, sheet metal forming, and composites.
  • How to complete DFM (design-for-manufacturing) with local and foreign suppliers
  • How to design and integrate circuit boards, antennas, and connectors into mechanical assemblies

Some examples of past projects include:

  • Gimbal Isolation: Design, simulate, re-design, DFM, and kick-off tooling for Skydio X10 gimbal vibration isolators
  • Scrappy Wind Tunnel: Exactly what it sounds like. Research what it takes to make a wind tunnel. Build a wind tunnel. Use the wind tunnel to learn about aerodynamic forces on a drone to inform design improvements.
  • Drone Battery Charger: Create prototypes for the battery charger for Skydio 2. Perform user studies, come up with a thermal solution, architect the product, and work on cosmetic surfacing.

Compensation: The hourly rate for this position is $41/hr for Undergrad, $53/hr for Graduate students, and $58/hr for PhD students*. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. In addition to base salary, Skydio full-time employees are eligible to enroll in our benefit plans and take advantage of a variety of incentives and stipends.

*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position's location.

Skydio's standard text

#LI-ZD1

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/

What this role asks for

Particular to this role

CATIA

Rare in Skydio's other 124 open postings.

70% of this description is written for the role. The rest is Skydio's standard text, folded away below.

Read against Skydio's other open postings on this site.

The team: Hardware HIRES STEADILY

This role is one of 14 open in Hardware. 7 were posted in the last 30 days and the oldest in September: a team that hires all year rather than one being built.

WHAT THE TEAM WORKS WITH, ACROSS ITS POSTINGS

CATIA (6 of 14), Python (6 of 14), SQL (3 of 14), C (2 of 14), FEA (2 of 14)

OTHER ROLES ON THIS TEAM

From the team and dates on Skydio's own job board.

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