Skydio Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: October 2026

Skydio calls itself the leading U.S. drone company and says it has delivered over 60,000 drones with 9 figures of annual revenue. Its interns are well paid for hardware: live postings list $41 to $58 an hour depending on role and whether you're an undergraduate, graduate or PhD student. On 3 October 2026 Skydio's Ashby board had six US intern roles in San Mateo, California: three for summer 2027 (autonomy, flight test, product design) and three for fall 2026 / winter 2027 terms, including an electrical engineering role with a January start. Last year most summer roles didn't appear until March and April. In plain words: apply to the three summer 2027 roles now, expect Skydio's main summer wave around March 2027, and consider a winter term if you can take one.

Quick Facts

Three summer 2027 roles and three fall/winter terms are open now with no deadlines; most of the summer 2027 wave hasn't posted yet.

Skydio's intern roles reward people who've owned a hardware or robotics project end to end. Externships are short, remote programs where you finish a real project for a real company, most commonly over 8 weeks. The Hydroficient IoT Cyber Defense Externship fits the electrical and embedded roles, and the BeReal Product Management Externship fits the Hardware Product Management internship. Explore all Externships.

What Is a Skydio Internship?

A Skydio internship is a paid, hourly placement at the San Mateo company that builds autonomous drones and docking stations for utility inspectors, first responders and the military. Skydio posts interns by term (fall, winter and summer) rather than as one summer class. The autonomy intern is paired with core software developers and gets "direct ownership of a project" in computer vision or deep learning; the flight test intern runs smoke and regression tests and checks the Skydio Dock end to end; the electrical intern prototypes and validates drone electrical systems. Interns are eligible for paid vacation, sick leave, holiday pay and a 401(k) plan, per the winter EE req.

When Do Skydio Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

Skydio's calendar is split. Three summer 2027 roles went up early, on 3-4 September 2026, about nine months before summer. Its fall and winter terms post a few months ahead: the winter EE role with a January start was published 17 September. Last cycle, SimplifyJobs first listed 12 US summer 2026 roles between 4 March and 21 April 2026, one to three months before summer, so applications for most summer 2027 disciplines (software, wireless, manufacturing, go-to-market) are expected around March-April 2027. That projection rests on one prior cycle.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

Skydio's reqs have no closing date and most disciplines get one req per term, so a role can be filled and pulled within weeks. The early summer roles are a small set: three US reqs for the whole company. When the main wave posts in spring, last year's pattern says each role appears with only one to three months to go before summer, which leaves little room for a slow application. Set an alert on the Ashby board now so you see March postings the day they go up.

Which Skydio Internship Programs Should You Target?

These are the six US intern roles live on 3 October 2026, with pay as stated on each req:

All roles are on Skydio's Ashby board. Last cycle the summer list also included software, wireless, manufacturing and go-to-market interns, which are expected again in spring.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

Skydio's intern reqs are lighter on gates than most defense-adjacent employers:

• Student level: pay tiers for undergraduate, graduate and (on four reqs) PhD students; say which you'll be during the internship.

• Citizenship: none of the six US intern reqs has a citizenship or export-control clause; Skydio uses E-Verify. Some full-time Skydio roles do require U.S.-person status.

• FAA Part 107: "strongly encouraged" for all employees and required for some roles; Flight Test lists it as a fit criterion.

• Work model: San Mateo; most roles hybrid, Flight Test on site, Hardware PM on site 5 days a week.

• GPA: not stated on any req.

Do You Need a Drone License Before Applying?

Not for most roles. Skydio's reqs say Part 107 certification is strongly encouraged within the first 60 days of employment and required for certain positions; the winter EE req says interns may need it within 30 days of starting. For Flight Test it's listed as a fit criterion, so holding the certificate before you apply is a real edge there. The FAA's remote pilot knowledge test is a one-time exam you can study for on your own.

What Skills Does Skydio Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

Across the six US intern reqs, the repeated themes are FAA Part 107, hands-on testing and debugging, and electrical systems. The autonomy role asks for C++ or Python with PyTorch and computer vision or deep learning; the product design role wants 3D CAD (CATIA valued); the EE role names digital interfaces such as USB, SPI and I2C plus Cadence Allegro. Every req expects you to own a piece of work and see it through.

How Is Demand for Engineering Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

None of these is a Skydio program, but each builds a skill the reqs name and gives you a project to talk through.

A drone build, a perception project or a test rig you designed will still carry more weight with Skydio's engineers; use the externship to add structure and a finished deliverable.

What Is the Skydio Application and Interview Process Like?

Skydio doesn't publish its intern process, and first-hand accounts are scarce. What we can confirm:

1. Apply per term on Ashby. Fall, winter and summer roles are separate reqs, so apply to each term you can do.

2. Recruiter or HR first round. A 2025 applicant reported that the first round was with HR.

3. Technical rounds with the team. Not documented in any usable first-hand source; expect questions tied to the req's tools (CAD, C++, Python, test methods).

4. Offer. Timing not published.

Prepare one project you can explain in depth, with the test results, because the reqs stress ownership of real work.

What the Community Says

We found no usable first-hand account of a Skydio internship on Reddit, and Indeed lists no intern reviews; the few threads that exist are unanswered questions or tool promotions. Rather than pad this section, we'll add reports when interns post them.

How Do You Stand Out for a Skydio Internship?

Three moves. First, get FAA Part 107 before you apply; it's a fit criterion for Flight Test and "strongly encouraged" everywhere else, so it signals you're ready to fly on day one. Second, show a project you owned end to end, such as a drone build, a perception model or an embedded board, because the autonomy req promises "direct ownership of a project". Third, use the term structure: the January-start EE role and the fall/winter hardware roles get fewer applicants than summer. Skydio doesn't publish applicant numbers or a return-offer rate.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

These autonomy and drone employers hire from the same robotics and hardware pool.

For more employers and their windows, see our aerospace and defense internships summer 2027 guide.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 Skydio internship?

No. Summer 2026 has ended and those reqs are gone from Skydio's board. What's open now: three summer 2027 roles (autonomy, flight test, product design) and three fall 2026 / winter 2027 terms in San Mateo. Most summer 2027 roles are expected around March-April 2027, based on last year's timing.

When do Skydio summer 2027 internship applications open?

Three summer 2027 roles opened on 3-4 September 2026 and are live now. Last year Skydio listed most of its summer roles between 4 March and 21 April, so expect the rest of the summer 2027 wave, including software and manufacturing roles, around March-April 2027.

Does Skydio hire interns outside the summer?

Yes. On 3 October 2026 it had three fall 2026 / winter 2027 roles open: Hardware Test and Reliability, Hardware Product Management, and an Electrical Engineer intern with a January start. Off-season terms usually draw fewer applicants, so they're worth a look if you can step away from campus.

How much do Skydio interns make?

Live reqs list $41 to $58 an hour. Undergraduates earn $41 or $47 depending on role, graduate students $47 or $53, and PhD students $58 where the role offers that tier. Interns on the winter EE req are also eligible for paid vacation, sick leave, holiday pay and a 401(k) plan.

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to intern at Skydio?

No citizenship requirement appears on any of Skydio's six US intern reqs, which state that Skydio uses E-Verify. Some full-time Skydio roles do require U.S.-person status, so read each req. International students still need their own US work authorization, such as CPT, for an internship.

Do I need a drone license for a Skydio internship?

Not always. Skydio strongly encourages FAA Part 107 certification for all employees and requires it for certain positions, and the Flight Test intern req lists it as a fit criterion. The winter EE req says you may need to obtain it within 30 days of starting if your role requires it.

Where are Skydio internships located?

All six current US intern roles are at Skydio's headquarters in San Mateo, California. Most are listed as hybrid, Flight Test is on site, and the Hardware PM role says on site five days a week. Skydio also has a manufacturing hub in Hayward that hired a summer intern last cycle.

How long is a Skydio internship?

Skydio doesn't state a length on any live intern req. It hires by term: fall, winter and summer, with the winter Electrical Engineer role starting in January. Ask your recruiter for exact dates before you commit, especially if you're planning a semester away from school.

Skydio's early summer and winter roles are open now, and the main summer wave is expected in spring. A remote Externship at 5 to 10 hours a week fills the gap with a finished project.