Autonomy Engineer - Fixed Wing Planning & Controls

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. About the Role: As an Autonomy Engineer you will contribute to the development and implementation of the core planning & control stack on F10, Skydio’s tailsitter platform. The F10 must reliably operate in the many tailsitter aerodynamic regimes – this coupled with the longer horizon of a faster vehicle makes the planning and control problems challenging and unique. Learn more about F10, our next-generation tailsitter platform, here https://www.skydio.com/f10. How You'll Make an Impact: - Architect, implement, simulate, and flight test new motion planning strategies - Develop, tune, and analyze new flight controllers - Refine and understand the aerodynamic and dynamic model of a tailsitter aircraft using simulated and flight test data - Inform aspects of hardware design such as sensor requirements and aerodynamic control authority through simulation and analysis - Get out of your comfort zone and help across the stack where needed What Makes You a Good Fit: - Strong proficiency in C++ and Python in real-time contexts - Experience shipping software that controls real hardware, e.g. aircraft, drones, robots, etc. - Knowledge of aircraft and rotorcraft dynamics - Experience with non-linear optimization - Modern and classical control theory and practice - Strong software engineering fundamentals and a commitment t

Department: R&D; Team: Autonomy