Hardware Product Management Intern - Fall 2026/Winter 2027

Full Job Description

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 to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.

About the Role

As a Hardware Product Management Intern, you will work closely with our customers and our hardware and embedded software engineering teams to help define and shape Skydio’s current and next-gen drone platforms, controllers, cameras, and accessories ecosystem. This is an incredible opportunity to learn Hardware + Software Product Management, drive key decisions, ship products to customers, and ultimately make an impact on the tools that our customers use in service of public safety, national security, and delivering safe and reliable power.

Location

This position is based onsite 5 days/week at our HQ in San Mateo, CA.

Examples of how you'll make an impact:

• Drive definition on portions of our existing and next-generation hardware products, including drones, controllers, cameras, and accessories, translating to impact on actual products shipped.

• Engage with customers, prospects, and internal stakeholders to understand core business problems to inform execution on projects.

• Draw upon direct customer experiences and ride-alongs as well as usage analytics to inform execution on projects.

• Develop, own, and publish product requirement documents for portions of Skydio’s vehicle hardware, controllers, cameras/sensors and embedded software.

• Partner with designers and engineering leaders spanning hardware, firmware, computer vision, AI, and machine learning to execute on self-contained projects that are expected to ship during the internship or shortly after.

• Capture, document, and distill feedback from customers and prospects to steer product development.

• Collaborate closely with sales and customer success to build and maintain close customer relationships and ensure success.

• Partner with product marketing to develop launch plans, product positioning and messaging to bring our products to market.

• Collaborate closely with our Go To Market Strategy team to forecast demand and price products.

What would make you a strong fit:

• You have a track record of success, demonstrating high ownership and high agency in fast-paced work environments.

• You are a clear and effective communicator in both technical and story-telling contexts.

• You are an exceptional critical thinker who loves to learn and can process and leverage new information very rapidly.

• You are a team player who is willing to take on any task, big or small, to get the job done.

• You have strong spatial and mechanical reasoning ability.

• You love to get out “in the field” in order to learn first-hand.

• You have a great sense for risk management and are very comfortable forming strong opinions with partial or incomplete information.

• You have strong business acumen and can approach problems either from a top-down business perspective or a bottom-up technical perspective.

• Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions.

Other qualifications that are a plus, but not required:

• A background in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or computer science.

• An advanced degree, or degree in progress, such as an MBA

• Aviation or drone experience

• Experience with IOT or networked devices

• Experience working in one of our core verticals (Law Enforcement, National Security, Electrical Utilities)

• Experience with enterprise/professional robotics or drones

• Direct or indirect experience with engineering that allows you to actively participate in deep discussions with engineers on complex technical architecture challenges and tradeoffs.

Compensation Range: The hourly base salary range for this position is $47/hr for Undergrad, $53/hr for Graduate students, and $58 for PhD students*. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. In addition to base salary, Skydio full-time employees are eligible to enroll in our benefit plans and take advantage of a variety of incentives and stipends.

*For some positions, compensation may be dependent upon location.

#LI-ZD1

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. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.

For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

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