Autonomy Lead
- Location
- Austin, TX · On-site
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Lead / Staff
- Listed
- 30 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- autonomy software
- perception and state estimation
- flight debugging
Also useful
- ML systems
- UAV platforms
About the role
Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real-world operations.
Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, and V3 has a maximum range of well over 1,000 miles, a maximum useful load of 100 lbs, and a maximum endurance of nearly 20 hours. Both use a hybrid-electric architecture that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane, enabling long-range autonomous delivery without traditional runway infrastructure.
Today, Skyways aircraft operate across three continents in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight and in support of U.S. military operations. We are transitioning from prototype development to full-rate production and scaling toward large autonomous cargo fleets.
Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force, Skyways is creating a new form of transportation to advance our civilization from Austin, Texas.
The Opportunity
This role owns how autonomy works in real-world flight, and it owns the small team that builds it.
You will define how perception, state estimation, planning, and flight behaviors come together into a system that actually completes missions reliably. This is not about building isolated components. It is about making the full stack work under real constraints, and about leading a team of autonomy engineers to do the same.
You will shape how our ML systems improve with real-world data and ensure they perform outside of ideal conditions. You will lead technical direction for autonomy while remaining deeply hands-on in architecture, implementation, testing, and flight debugging. Your work directly impacts mission success, aircraft reliability, and operational deployment at fleet scale.
We are looking for someone who has already built and deployed autonomy systems on real-world robotic or UAV platforms, and who wants to grow a team while staying close to the code.
From Skyways's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
Rolev.ai is a job search and application tool for US job seekers. For this Autonomy Lead role at Skyways, it shows how your resume fits, tailors your resume to the posting, and prepares the application for you to review.
See how you fit
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Common questions
Where is the Autonomy Lead job at Skyways located?
This Autonomy Lead position at Skyways is located in Austin, TX (On-site). Always check Skyways's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Autonomy Lead at Skyways?
For the Autonomy Lead role, Skyways highlights experience with autonomy software, perception and state estimation, flight debugging. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Autonomy Lead position at Skyways?
This listing links directly to Skyways's Lever application page. You can apply directly on Skyways's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Lever application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.