Supplier Development 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.
Insightfully designed manufacturing processes and fully qualified supplier relationships are critical elements in bringing tightly integrated, sophisticated systems to market. As the primary designer and executioner of Skydio’s Supplier Development Engineering practice, you’ll interface with vendors, impact the product design and enable the processes to ensure that the world’s most advanced autonomous drones arrive on time and at the highest quality.
What You’ll Do
- Lead supplier development from early concept through high-volume production, enabling Skydio to bring cutting-edge manufacturing processes to market
- Develop and implement robust manufacturing, testing and tooling processes with a focus on manufacturability, yield optimization, and supplier capability building for Skydio’s next-generation products
- Work between product design, supply chain and Skydio’s factory teams to enable high efficiency manufacturing operations
- Partner with autonomy, hardware design, and operations teams to translate product requirements into scalable, manufacturable designs
- Use advanced analytics and tools to identify production bottlenecks and drive efficiency improvements across the supply base
- Get hands-on by running early concept studies at Skydio HQ while overseeing large-scale validation projects with suppliers
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 3+ years of experience in supplier industrialization, manufacturing engineering, or NPI in high-tech/high-volume environments.
- Proven experience with supplier development, qualification processes, or manufacturing design ownership
- Strong tooling, assembly, and quality process knowledge; familiarity with DFx principles.
- Experience collaborating across design, manufacturing, and supply chain stakeholders.
- Solid analytical and project management skills, with experience in ramp-up/down control and supplier performance metrics
- Willingness to travel 20–30% to overseas suppliers
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in consumer electronics, robotics, or drone hardware supply chains.
- Familiarity with simulation or NPI workflow tools, including digital manufacturing, process simulation
- Lean manufacturing certification or expertise in statistical process control (SPC), DFMA, or Six Sigma methodologies.
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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.
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