Skydio OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Skydio hires OPT students for roles in autonomous systems, robotics software, computer vision, and hardware engineering. The company operates in a high-skill defense and commercial drone sector where F-1 talent is a natural fit, making it a practical target for OPT job seekers with technical degrees.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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
We leverage breakthrough AI to create the world’s most intelligent flying machines for use by our enterprise, public safety, defense and other customers. Learning a semantic and geometric understanding of the world from best-in-class visual data is the core of our autonomy system. We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with real-time deep networks to accelerate progress in intelligent aerial robots that can autonomously navigate in unknown environments and deliver operational value to users. Capture and processing of high quality visual data powered by computational photography models and algorithms are key to enabling enhanced camera capabilities and downstream applications such as inspection and mapping, ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and public safety. If you are excited about real world applications of deep learning and solving difficult problems in imaging, computer vision and autonomy, we would love to hear from you.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Deep Learning Engineer Intern, you will be responsible for training and deploying optimized models to our products for solving challenging problems such as multimodal scene understanding, computational photography, optical flow and range estimation, object detection, segmentation and tracking, visual localization and mapping, few-shot learning, automated path planning etc.
- Design, implement and deploy deep learning models with a particular focus on computational photography applications such as super-resolution, multi-frame denoising, low light imaging, High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging etc.
- Leverage massive amounts of real world video and other sensor data for data mining, curation, labeling, training and evaluation
- Leverage large scale and diverse synthetic data to power deep learning algorithms
- Leverage state-of-the-art foundation models for knowledge distillation and label efficient learning
- Refine and optimize models for low-latency on embedded hardware
- Refine and optimize models for cloud-based deployment in latency tolerant applications
- Develop evaluation benchmarks and metrics to quantify the performance of autonomous systems
- Be a generalist helping out on all aspects of the software when needed
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- M.S. or Ph.D. in computer science, electrical engineering or related discipline
- Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, training and deploying deep learning models
- Ability to deliver high quality, well-architected code (Python/PyTorch and preferably, C++)
- Leverage state-of-the-art academic papers and literature for fast iteration
- Ability to thrive in a fast paced, collaborative and highly technical team environment
- Comfortable navigating and delivering within a complex codebase
- Strong communication skills
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/
INTRODUCTION
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
We leverage breakthrough AI to create the world’s most intelligent flying machines for use by our enterprise, public safety, defense and other customers. Learning a semantic and geometric understanding of the world from best-in-class visual data is the core of our autonomy system. We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with real-time deep networks to accelerate progress in intelligent aerial robots that can autonomously navigate in unknown environments and deliver operational value to users. Capture and processing of high quality visual data powered by computational photography models and algorithms are key to enabling enhanced camera capabilities and downstream applications such as inspection and mapping, ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and public safety. If you are excited about real world applications of deep learning and solving difficult problems in imaging, computer vision and autonomy, we would love to hear from you.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Deep Learning Engineer Intern, you will be responsible for training and deploying optimized models to our products for solving challenging problems such as multimodal scene understanding, computational photography, optical flow and range estimation, object detection, segmentation and tracking, visual localization and mapping, few-shot learning, automated path planning etc.
- Design, implement and deploy deep learning models with a particular focus on computational photography applications such as super-resolution, multi-frame denoising, low light imaging, High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging etc.
- Leverage massive amounts of real world video and other sensor data for data mining, curation, labeling, training and evaluation
- Leverage large scale and diverse synthetic data to power deep learning algorithms
- Leverage state-of-the-art foundation models for knowledge distillation and label efficient learning
- Refine and optimize models for low-latency on embedded hardware
- Refine and optimize models for cloud-based deployment in latency tolerant applications
- Develop evaluation benchmarks and metrics to quantify the performance of autonomous systems
- Be a generalist helping out on all aspects of the software when needed
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- M.S. or Ph.D. in computer science, electrical engineering or related discipline
- Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, training and deploying deep learning models
- Ability to deliver high quality, well-architected code (Python/PyTorch and preferably, C++)
- Leverage state-of-the-art academic papers and literature for fast iteration
- Ability to thrive in a fast paced, collaborative and highly technical team environment
- Comfortable navigating and delivering within a complex codebase
- Strong communication skills
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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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Skydio OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Align your degree to Skydio's core disciplines
Skydio's work spans computer vision, autonomy algorithms, and embedded systems. Map your degree field directly to these disciplines on your resume before applying. Recruiters in aerospace and defense filter hard on technical relevance, so a vague match won't clear the first screen.
Verify your STEM OPT eligibility before applying
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field, your 24-month extension depends on Skydio being enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm this before accepting an offer, not after. USCIS requires the employer to be E-Verify enrolled for the extension to be valid.
Target internship roles to build a transition path
Skydio regularly converts interns to full-time hires, which is your strongest path to an H-1B sponsorship offer. Use your OPT period strategically by joining as an intern first, demonstrating team fit, and positioning for a return offer that includes future H-1B support.
Research prevailing wages for your target role
Before negotiating your offer, look up wage levels for your role using the OFLC Wage Search. Aerospace and defense roles often sit at Level II or III wages. Knowing the prevailing wage range lets you assess whether the offer is competitive and positions you for H-1B eligibility later.
Use Migrate Mate to find Skydio's H-1B filing history
Your OPT period is finite, so target employers with a demonstrated H-1B track record. Migrate Mate surfaces Skydio's H-1B filing data by role and year, letting you verify sponsorship intent before you invest time in the application process.
Time your application around OPT authorization windows
You can apply for OPT up to 90 days before your program end date, and your EAD must be in hand before your start date. Coordinate your Skydio interview timeline with these USCIS processing windows to avoid a gap between your graduation date and your first day.
Skydio OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Skydio sponsor OPT visas?
Skydio hires students who already hold OPT work authorization, which USCIS grants directly to F-1 students. Skydio doesn't petition for OPT itself. What matters is whether Skydio is enrolled in E-Verify, which is required if you plan to use the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer.
Which roles at Skydio are most accessible to OPT students?
Skydio's hiring is concentrated in software engineering, computer vision, autonomy and robotics, embedded systems, and hardware engineering. These are all STEM-designated fields, which means OPT students in those disciplines are well-positioned for both the initial 12-month authorization and the 24-month STEM extension.
How do I confirm Skydio will support the STEM OPT extension?
Ask your recruiter or HR contact directly whether Skydio is enrolled in E-Verify before signing your offer. E-Verify enrollment is a USCIS requirement for STEM OPT extension eligibility. Your DSO can also help you verify this. Don't assume enrollment because the company is large or well-known in the defense sector.
What is the typical timeline for starting at Skydio on OPT?
Your OPT EAD must be in hand on or before your start date. USCIS can take up to 90 days to process the EAD, so your DSO should file early. Build at least three months of lead time into your Skydio interview and offer timeline to avoid delays between graduation and your first day.
How do I find open OPT-friendly roles at Skydio?
Migrate Mate filters job listings by employers with H-1B visa and OPT hiring history, so you can see Skydio roles that are likely to support work authorization without guessing. Look specifically for software, robotics, and hardware engineering openings, as these teams at Skydio align most directly with STEM OPT eligibility requirements.
How does Skydio hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Skydio can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Skydio's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.