Manufacturing Business Process Intern
Hayward, California, United States - Intern
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 Summer 2026 Manufacturing Business Process Intern, you will help drive efficiency and scale in Skydio’s production and RMA processes. You’ll partner closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Customer Support to analyze current workflows, design measurable improvements, and implement practical solutions that reduce cost, improve cycle time, and increase accuracy of reports and invoices. This internship is highly cross-functional and hands-on — you will spend time on the factory floor, in systems, and with stakeholders to deliver production-ready outcomes.
How You’ll Make an Impact:
1) Analyze & redesign the X10 Drone Estimate Process
Goal: Ensure we are covering costs and providing customers with accurate, auditable estimates, reports, and invoices. Deliverables:
A documented current-state process and gap analysis (stakeholders, systems, data sources, pain points).
A redesigned end-to-end cost model and workflow that captures direct and indirect costs, RMA labor/materials, test and repair steps, and margin rules.
Implementation plan to automate estimate calculations (spreadsheet + script / ERP configuration), integration points with invoicing/Finance systems, and reconciliation controls.
End-to-end test cases, sample reports/invoices, training materials, and a rollout plan with risk/rollback steps.
2) Build near real-time production dashboards for operators and supervisors
Goal: Provide operator- and supervisor-facing visibility into critical KPIs to enable faster decision making and improved throughput. Deliverables:
High-level and station-level dashboards (Looker/Tableau/Power BI or embedded web dashboards) showing KPIs: OEE, yield, cycle time, WIP, rejects.
Drill-downs to failed units and unit-level traceability to identify defect clusters and root causes.
Operator-facing views / low-latency displays designed for the shop floor.
Mockups, data model, implementation notes (data sources, latency, ETL/streaming approach), validation plan, and a phased rollout plan (pilot → full production).
3) Implement inventory control and reorder-point triggers for production lines
Goal: Reduce stockouts and excess inventory while ensuring production lines have the parts they need when they need them. Deliverables:
Reorder point and safety stock methodology tailored to each production line (including demand variability, lead times, and service-level targets).
Configurable reorder triggers and workflow for triggering purchases or pull requests (ERP/MRP configuration notes).
Implementation plan for monitoring and automated alerts, plus dashboards that show inventory health and reorder status.
Pilot execution and validation (test scenarios, success metrics, and rollout checklist).
4) Improve RMA & disposition workflows (additional focus)
Goal: Shorten RMA cycle time, improve disposition accuracy, and recover costs where possible. Deliverables:
RMA process map and proposed improvements (triage rules, disposition codes, automation opportunities).
Dashboards and reports tracking RMA KPIs (turnaround time, disposition mix, cost recovery).
Implementation and training plan for process and system changes.
What Makes You a Good Fit:
You’ll thrive if you have a mix of process thinking, data skills, and a practical understanding of manufacturing operations:
Currently pursuing a degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technical field.
Familiarity with BI tools (Looker, Tableau, Power BI) and experience building dashboards or mockups.
Strong Excel modeling skills and experience building cost models or process simulations.
Understanding of manufacturing metrics and shop-floor concepts (OEE, takt time, cycle time, yield, WIP) and basic inventory concepts (safety stock, reorder points).
Comfortable working on the factory floor to gather requirements and validate solutions.
Strong communicator: able to partner with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Customer Support to define requirements and present results.
Problem solver: can take ambiguous process problems and produce reproducible analyses, models, and implementation plans.
Detail-oriented with a documentation mindset (process maps, data contracts, test cases).
Compensation:
The hourly base salary range for this position is $41/hr for Undergrad, $47/hr for Graduate students, and $53 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 the pay may be dependent upon the individual's regional location.
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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/