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Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. The company has spent eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real-world operations. The V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, while the next-generation V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000+ miles with 20+ hours of endurance. Both use a hybrid-electric architecture that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane, enabling long-range autonomous delivery without traditional runway infrastructure.
Skyways aircraft currently operate across three continents in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight and in support of U.S. military operations. The company is transitioning from prototype development to full-rate production and scaling toward large autonomous cargo fleets. Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force, Skyways is based in Austin, Texas.
In this role, you will own and ship capabilities across SkyNav (the mission planning and visualization platform), backend services, telemetry infrastructure, and autonomous aircraft software. You'll build interactive 3D visualization and mission planning features in SkyNav using JavaScript or TypeScript and modern web graphics. You'll develop and operate Python services, APIs, data pipelines, and automation that support aircraft and fleet operations. You'll make safe, production-quality changes to the ArduPilot C++ fork and integrate them with avionics, hardware, and higher-level autonomy systems. You'll scale, load balance, and instrument the telemetry hub so real-time fleet data remains reliable as aircraft volume grows. You'll apply AI and machine learning where they create real value, including engineering automation, data analysis, debugging, and operator tools. You'll partner closely with GNC (guidance, navigation, and control), robotics, embedded software, flight operations, and hardware teams to validate changes in simulation and flight testing. You'll raise the engineering bar through thoughtful architecture, testing, code review, CI/CD, observability, and clear technical documentation.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with a record of shipping production systems
- Strong production proficiency in Python, JavaScript or TypeScript, and C++
- Demonstrated ability to work across the stack, from user interfaces and 3D experiences to backend services and systems software
- Experience designing APIs or distributed services with attention to performance, reliability, load balancing, and observability
- Experience in aviation, robotics, autonomous systems, or another environment where software interacts with real-world hardware
- Strong applied AI fluency, including using modern AI development tools effectively and building AI-enabled product or operational capabilities
- Ability to debug complex issues across application, network, operating system, and hardware boundaries
- Proactive, low-ego approach with strong communication and comfort owning ambiguous problems from concept through deployment
BONUS QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with ArduPilot, PX4, or another autopilot stack
- Experience with Electron, CesiumJS, Three.js, Babylon.js, WebGL, or similar 3D technologies
- Experience with real-time telemetry, event streaming, fleet systems, or high-availability infrastructure
- Experience with embedded Linux, avionics, sensors, or direct hardware communication
- Background in GNC, computer vision, autonomy, or flight testing
- Knowledge of FAA operations, UAS regulations, defense programs, or export-controlled development environments
- Experience at an early-stage company where engineers move quickly across disciplines
Note: Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations.
