Senior AI Systems Engineer
San Mateo, California, United States
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.
Senior AI Systems Engineer
About the Role
We are seeking a highly experienced Senior AI Systems Engineer to join our growing IT team. This role is pivotal in driving our transition from manual operations to intelligent, agentic systems, directly impacting company-wide efficiency and employee productivity. You will be responsible for designing, building, and deploying scalable automation infrastructure that connects critical business platforms and enables AI-driven workflows, with a core focus on advanced identity lifecycle management.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on systems architect who excels at leveraging Agentic AI principles to drive integrations, automations, and projects that solve complex cross-functional challenges and enhance overall employee productivity, all while ensuring reliability and security at enterprise scale.
Location: This is an office-based position that requires 5 days/week onsite at Skydio HQ in San Mateo, CA.
Key Responsibilities
- Design & Deploy Intelligent Systems: Architect and implement agentic AI and intelligent automation solutions that orchestrate complex, cross-platform workflows across our technology stack (e.g., HRIS, Google Workspace, Slack, Security Tools).
- Workflow Integration: Act as the primary technical expert for integration tools (e.g., Okta Workflows), developing robust, production-ready recipes and flows that maximize operational efficiency.
- Reduce Manual Overhead: Identify high-leverage opportunities for automation to eliminate toil, particularly in Security, HR, and IT operations, and implement solutions to trigger real actions based on system events.
- API & Backend Development: Develop, secure, and maintain internal APIs and microservices necessary to bridge platforms that lack native integration capabilities, ensuring high availability and performance.
- Advanced Okta Administration: Architect and manage the full identity lifecycle within Okta, including advanced provisioning, deprovisioning, synchronization, and delegated authentication schemes.
- Okta Workflows Expertise: Design, build, and optimize complex identity-as-code workflows using Okta Workflows to ensure instantaneous, policy-driven access changes and compliance across all connected systems.
- Ensure all deployed systems and automation pipelines are scalable, reliable, and secure, utilizing best practices for error handling, alerting, and performance monitoring.
- Document all automation processes, system architecture, and Okta configurations thoroughly for maintainability and knowledge transfer.
- Mentor and guide junior engineers on best practices for automation, security, and identity systems development.
What Makes You Be a Good Fit
- A degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience
- Minimum of 6 years of experience in IT Systems Engineering, DevOps, or highly-focused Automation Engineering roles.
- Deep Expertise in Identity Management: Proven, hands-on expertise (4+ years) administering and architecting solutions within Okta, including SSO, MFA, Group Rules, and Universal Directory.
- Scripting & Programming: Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript) for automation, API interaction, and system management.
- System Knowledge: Strong understanding of core IT infrastructure and services, including Networking (TCP/IP, DNS), Cloud Platforms (GCP/AWS/Azure), and Linux/MacOS environments.
- Automation Mindset: A proactive attitude with a focus on continuous improvement, identifying manual toil, and developing self-healing, automated solutions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- A heroic passion for preemptive problem-solving, dedicated to automating the mundane, ensuring near-instantaneous service delivery and high-fives all around.
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. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual base salary range for this position is $180,000 - $230,000. 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. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive the following 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.
*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position’s 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/