Software Engineer (Simulation & Robotics Engineer)

We are looking for a software engineer to build and evolve the core of the Skydio Simulator — a high-fidelity, real-time digital replica of the physical world used both by customers and by Skydio’s autonomy engineers every day

In this role, you will work deep in the simulator stack: from physics and sensor simulation, to hardware emulation, to the core architecture that runs our full autonomy software in simulation

You will help define how simulated worlds behave, how vehicles perceive and interact with them, and how closely simulation mirrors reality

This is a systems-heavy role focused on correctness, performance, and realism

Core Simulator Architecture: Design, implement, and evolve the foundational architecture of the Skydio Simulator, ensuring it scales across vehicle types, environments, and use cases

Physics and Dynamics: Improve and extend physics models governing vehicle motion, interactions with the environment, and dynamic agents

Sensor and Hardware Simulation: Build high-fidelity simulations of cameras, IMUs, and other onboard components, including timing, noise characteristics, and hardware behavior

Autonomy Stack Integration: Run and validate the full Skydio autonomy stack in simulation, ensuring consistency between simulated and real-world behavior

Feature Development on Top of the Core: Implement simulator capabilities that unlock new workflows for customers and internal autonomy engineers, from training scenarios to advanced testing modes

Performance and Fidelity: Profile, optimize, and improve simulator performance while continuously pushing realism and accuracy

Develop core simulator components in C++ and Python, working close to real-time constraints

Collaborate with autonomy, perception, and controls engineers to align simulation behavior with real-world systems

Debug complex interactions between physics, sensors, autonomy logic, and rendering

Help shape the long-term technical direction of the simulator as both a product and an internal platform

Contribute to documentation and shared understanding of how the simulator works internally- Prior robotics experience is not required, but curiosity about physical systems and an interest in autonomous robots is essential

Experience building complex systems where performance, determinism, or correctness matter

Comfort reasoning about time-synchronized systems, state machines, or real-time execution

Ability to work in a large, evolving codebase with multiple stakeholders

Strong software engineering experience with C++ and Python

Interest in robotics, simulation, or physical systems (prior robotics experience is a plus, not a requirement)

Robotics, simulation, game engines, or real-time systems

Physics engines, sensor modeling, or hardware abstraction layers

Experience debugging systems that span software and physical behavior

Multithreaded or low-latency system design