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Skyways is building autonomous cargo aircraft to create a faster, more resilient transportation network.
The Role
Own the architecture and technical direction of a software stack spanning 3D mission-planning interfaces, backend services, telemetry infrastructure, and autonomous aircraft software. Lead safety-critical C++ and ArduPilot work, scale fleet systems, establish engineering standards, drive cross-functional technical plans, apply AI tools, and mentor engineers. The role requires hands-on expertise across Python, JavaScript or TypeScript, C++, distributed systems, and software interacting with real-world hardware.
Summary Generated by Built In
Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real-world operations.
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
Skyways is hiring a Staff Software Engineer to set technical direction for software that flies. You will work across the same stack as the rest of the team, from 3D interfaces in SkyNav, to high throughput Python services, to C++ running in our ArduPilot fork, but at Staff scope: you own the architecture, define the standards, and drive outcomes that span multiple teams. You will identify what needs doing without being told and make every engineer around you more effective. This role is ideal for a deep, hands on engineer who wants their design decisions flying on real aircraft.
What You'll Do:
- Own the architecture and evolution of critical areas of the Skyways software stack, spanning SkyNav, backend services, telemetry infrastructure, and autonomous aircraft software.
- Set technical standards for the software team and raise the quality bar through design, code review, and decision making.
- Lead the highest risk, highest leverage work: architecture of our ArduPilot C++ fork, safety relevant vehicle software changes, and integration with avionics, hardware, and higher level autonomy systems.
- Design SkyNav's 3D visualization and mission planning architecture using JavaScript or TypeScript and modern web graphics, so other engineers can build quickly on solid foundations.
- Architect and scale our telemetry hub so real time fleet data remains reliable as aircraft volume grows, making the build versus buy and infrastructure calls that come with it.
- Apply AI and machine learning where they create real value, and shape how the software team uses modern AI tools across engineering automation, data analysis, debugging, and operator tools.
- Drive cross functional alignment across GNC, robotics, embedded software, flight operations, hardware, and leadership, turning ambiguous company priorities into concrete technical plans validated in simulation and flight testing.
- Multiply the team: mentor senior engineers, write the design documents that settle debates, and shape how software gets built at Skyways through architecture, testing, CI/CD, observability, and clear technical documentation.
What You'll Bring:
- 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, including ownership of production systems that span multiple teams.
- Deep production proficiency in Python, JavaScript or TypeScript, and C++.
- A track record of architecting and shipping across the stack, from user interfaces and 3D experiences to backend services and systems software.
- Experience designing distributed systems and APIs for performance, reliability, load balancing, and observability at scale.
- 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.
- Evidence of force multiplication: standards you set, designs you drove, and engineers who got better because you were there.
- The judgment to define your own direction within company strategy, the ability to debug complex issues across application, network, operating system, and hardware boundaries, and a proactive, low ego approach to owning ambiguous problems from concept through deployment.
Bonus Points:
- 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.
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
- 8+ years of professional software engineering experience
- Ownership of production systems spanning multiple teams
- Deep production proficiency in Python, JavaScript or TypeScript, and C++
- Experience architecting and shipping across user interfaces, 3D experiences, backend services, and systems software
- Experience designing distributed systems and APIs for performance, reliability, load balancing, and observability at scale
- Experience in aviation, robotics, autonomous systems, or software interacting with real-world hardware
- Strong applied AI fluency and experience using modern AI development tools
- Evidence of setting standards, driving designs, and mentoring or improving other engineers
- Ability to debug across application, network, operating system, and hardware boundaries
- Ability to independently define direction and own ambiguous problems through deployment
- 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 operating across disciplines
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.
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The Company
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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