Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, while our 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.
Today, Skyways aircraft operate across three continents in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight and in support of U.S. military operations. We are 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 creating a new form of transportation to advance our civilization from Austin, Texas.
The Opportunity
This role owns RF, communications, and EMI/EMC across our autonomous aircraft platforms.
You will design, integrate, and validate the systems that keep our aircraft connected and reliable in demanding real-world environments: telemetry, command-and-control, navigation, payload, and networking. You will also own EMI/EMC across the aircraft, diagnosing and mitigating the interference and coupling problems that surface when dense electronics, high-power systems, and sensitive RF all share one airframe.
This is a hands-on systems role. You will move between architecture and the bench, working across avionics, electrical, autonomy, and flight operations to solve problems that span interference, antenna integration, signal integrity, EMI/EMC, and long-range communications performance. Your work directly impacts connectivity, BVLOS capability, operational reliability, and system robustness across deployed fleets.
The ideal candidate has built and debugged RF and communications systems on aerospace, robotics, defense, or autonomous platforms, and has real EMI/EMC depth, not just familiarity.
What You'll Do:
Own RF and wireless communication systems for autonomous aircraft, from design through integration and validation
Own EMI/EMC analysis, mitigation, and validation across aircraft systems
Drive telemetry, command-and-control, payload, navigation, and networking systems
Debug RF performance issues across interference, signal quality, antenna performance, and integration
Diagnose and resolve EMI/EMC issues on integrated hardware, from component selection through aircraft-level test
Partner with avionics, electrical, autonomy, and flight operations teams through integration and testing
Lead RF and EMC validation across ground and flight testing in operational environments
Build test procedures, integration workflows, and troubleshooting processes for RF and EMC systems
Improve reliability, robustness, and scalability across deployed aircraft platforms
What You'll Bring:
5+ years designing, integrating, and troubleshooting RF and communications systems, with end-to-end ownership of system-level problems
Hands-on EMI/EMC experience diagnosing and mitigating interference and coupling on integrated hardware, MIL-STD-461 or equivalent
Strong RF fundamentals including antennas, signal propagation, interference, and signal integrity
Experience with embedded systems, avionics, networking, or communications hardware
Proven track record debugging integrated hardware systems in lab and field environments
Fluency with RF and EMC test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, VNAs, oscilloscopes, SDR platforms, and EMC test setups
Ability to work across hardware, software, and operational teams to solve complex system issues
Strong communication and problem-solving skills
Bonus Points:
Experience with aerospace, UAV, robotics, or defense systems
Experience with BVLOS communications or long-range telemetry systems
Familiarity with cellular, mesh, SATCOM, GNSS, or software-defined radio systems
EMC qualification and compliance testing to MIL-STD-461, DO-160, or equivalent
Amateur radio license or practical RF hobbyist experience
Experience supporting flight test or deployed field systems
Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more!
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.
Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience working on RF, EMI, or EMC for complex hardware systems
- Background in aviation or satellites
- Strong understanding of EMI/ EMC fundamentals and coupling mechanisms
- Experience with RF systems such as radios, antennas, GPS, or data links
- Hands-on debugging experience using spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and related lab equipment
- Experience supporting system integration and cross-disciplinary debugging
- Ability to translate theory into practical, flight-ready solutions
Skyways Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Skyways and has not been reviewed or approved by Skyways.
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Healthcare Strength — Employee medical and dental are employer-paid with additional vision and HSA/FSA options noted; core health coverage appears strong for a hardware/robotics startup.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Stock options are offered to every employee and performance bonuses are listed; ownership upside is broadly accessible across the organization.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is described as generous, with paid holidays and generous parental leave highlighted; the breadth of leave supports work-life needs beyond baseline policies.
Skyways Insights
What We Do
We are creating a new form of transportation to advance the future of our civilization. Our story starts with fully autonomous, unmanned aerial vehicles with vertical take-off and landing capability and used for cargo transportation.
Why Work With Us
We are creating a new form of transportation to advance the future of our civilization. Skyways is building fully autonomous cargo aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capability to transform how goods move. Join a small, ambitious team solving hard aerospace and autonomy problems with real world impact.
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