Skyways manufactures long-range autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft (V2, V3) with double-hybrid electric-fuel propulsion, ~100 lb payload, 1,000+ mile range, 20+ hour endurance, and scaling for mass production.
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, 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 some of the hardest perception problems in autonomous flight. You will develop computer vision systems for autonomous landing, targetless landing zone evaluation, and perception-driven navigation in real operating environments. Your work will directly impact how aircraft identify safe landing areas, operate in degraded environments, and complete missions reliably without prepared infrastructure. You will work across perception, sensor fusion, and flight systems to improve how aircraft understand terrain, obstacles, and environmental conditions during autonomous operations. The ideal candidate has experience deploying perception systems on real robotic, automotive, or aerial platforms and understands the challenges of reliability, integration, and operational performance at system level. You will work closely with autonomy, GNC, and flight operations teams to take systems from development through flight testing and operational deployment.