SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
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 systems workstreams end-to-end: define scope, requirements, interfaces, acceptance criteria, dependencies, and verification plans. You will carry assigned work through integration and closure with clear evidence of delivered outcomes. You will lead analysis of architecture and interface choices within your scope, assessing performance, safety, reliability, and integration implications, and document recommendations while coordinating decisions with affected owners. You will set the test approach, readiness criteria, and configuration baseline for your workstream, coordinating bench, simulation, ground, and flight verification, resolving discrepancies, and demonstrating that requirements are met. You will set priorities within team direction, anticipate cross-team dependencies, and lead investigation of complex system anomalies. You will work with Reliability Engineering and subsystem owners to verify corrective actions and track measurable results. You will improve documentation, design and test reviews, and working standards in your area. You will mentor less-experienced engineers and share reusable methods that help peers make sound technical decisions.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Engineering education or equivalent practical experience relevant to aircraft systems, robotics, or other complex hardware and software products
- Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of meaningful engineering workstreams that measurably improved product performance, integration quality, test completion, or team delivery
- Deep expertise in systems engineering or an aircraft subsystem, with judgment to assess interactions across hardware, software, and operational use
- Strong experience with requirements traceability, interface control, engineering trade studies, configuration changes, and verification and validation
- Ability to explain technical decisions, evidence, uncertainty, and risks clearly to engineers, project owners, and other stakeholders
- Proven ability to set priorities within team direction, resolve ambiguous problems, coordinate dependencies, and close technical gaps without waiting for detailed task assignments
- Evidence of improving others' work through mentorship, documentation, technical review, or practical standards; proficiency with engineering analysis tools
BONUS:
- Experience taking autonomous aircraft or complex electromechanical systems through integration and operational evaluation
- Familiarity with ArduPilot, MAVLink, DroneCAN, or comparable flight-control and communications tools
- Experience with aircraft safety analysis, failure-mode analysis, or cross-subsystem root-cause investigations
- Experience developing reusable simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, test automation, or requirements and verification practices
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.
