About the role
Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, while our next-generation V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000+ miles with 20+ hours of endurance. 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.
Aplyr's read
Skyways is an ambitious air freight logistics company, attracting talent passionate about aviation and cutting-edge transportation technology.
What's promising
- •Skyways focuses on air freight, a growing sector with increasing global demand.
- •The company invests in advanced technology, enhancing efficiency and innovation.
- •Skyways offers diverse roles, indicating a broad scope of operations and opportunities.
What to watch
- •High competition in the logistics sector may pressure profit margins.
- •Dependence on air freight exposes the company to fuel price volatility.
- •Limited public information about company culture and employee satisfaction.
Why Skyways
- •Skyways specializes in air freight, differentiating it from ground-focused logistics firms.
- •The company is actively hiring for senior technical roles, indicating a focus on innovation.
- •Skyways' emphasis on autonomy and robotics suggests a forward-thinking approach.
Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?
About Skyways
Skyways is a logistics and transportation company specializing in air freight and delivery services.
