Skydio
Software Engineer - Embedded
San Mateo, California, United States · Full-time
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odds of building a lasting career here
Sponsors, but it's cap-subject — you still face the weighted lottery (~61% per draw at Level IV). Good if you win; have a cap-exempt backup on your list.
Lottery odds assume a STEM candidate.
Personalize to your clock →H-1B wage level
the lottery is wage-weighted — each level is one more entry
The bottom of this range ($127,500) is below the Level I prevailing wage of $137,093. An H-1B cannot be filed below the prevailing wage, so an offer at the floor of this band could not be sponsored as posted.
Based on the DOL prevailing wage for this occupation and worksite, a base salary of $165,131 would place this position at wage Level II. That figure is within the posted range, and I'd like to target it. This role classifies under "Software Developers" for prevailing-wage purposes.
DOL prevailing wage, 2026-27 wage year · Software Developers (15-1252) · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Wage level is derived by USCIS from the offered wage, occupation and worksite; the occupation shown is inferred from the job title.
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Sourced from Department of Labor LCA, PERM and prevailing-wage disclosure data. Employer matching is by name, so figures may be split across an employer's legal entities. Absence of a filing means none appears in our copy of the data, not that none exists.
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About the role
- Reliable embedded firmware acts as the brain stem of our autonomous drones and the foundation for the growing accessory product line -- bridging the gap between the algorithms and the sensors/mechanical hardware.
- Provide technical direction and architecture of complex systems
- Write interfaces and drivers for sensors and other devices
Responsibilities
- Design and implement the embedded software that runs on the vehicle
- Characterize, integrate, and validate key subsystems (e.g. next-gen camera, radio)
- 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.
Requirements
- Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions
- Ability to write modern C++ in a real-time embedded environment
- Ability to write clean code with appropriate abstraction boundaries
- Fundamental knowledge of low-level firmware
- Knowledge of debugging systems at ARM assembly code level
Nice to have
- SOC development (Qualcomm devices a plus), embedded microcontrollers, camera drivers
Compensation
- At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages.
- Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience.
- The annual base salary range for this position is $127,500 - $210,000*.
Benefits
- Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan.
- This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company's policies and eligibility criteria.
- Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success.
- Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company's group health insurance plans.
Company info
- Our team is responsible for large portions of the software engineering stack, working on a wide variety of subsystems.
- We write bare metal and RTOS microcontroller code (stm32 product line), integrate and write code for embedded linux and android platforms (Qualcomm and Nvidia SOCs), maintain the associated linux kernels, and help design and bring up all new electronics.
- We work closely with both the hardware team and the rest of the software organization, creating the foundation for the rest of the Skydio software team to build upon.
- 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 https://www.skydio.com/solutions/energy-and-utilities to first responders https://www.skydio.com/solutions/public-safety, soldiers in battlefield scenarios https://www.skydio.com/solutions/national-security/tactical-isr, and beyond https://www.skydio.com/solutions.
- We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.
This listing is sourced directly from Skydio's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.