The posting
Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors https://www.skydio.com/solutions/energy-and-utilities to first responders https://www.skydio.com/solutions/public-safety, soldiers in battlefield scenarios https://www.skydio.com/solutions/national-security/tactical-isr, and beyond https://www.skydio.com/solutions.
SOLUTIONS ENGINEER – STATE, LOCAL, EDUCATIONAL (SLED) CAMPUS SECURITY
US Remote – Full-time
Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Skydio is looking for seasoned campus public safety professionals to join our team of Solutions Engineers. In this capacity you will be responsible for demonstrating Skydio's end-to-end autonomous dock and Drone as First Responder solutions for campus security across colleges, universities, and other campus environments. A successful candidate has worked inside a campus police or public safety department, understands how a campus runs day to day, loves to travel, and is detail oriented — able to conduct thorough discovery, run trials on open campuses with students, staff, and visitors present, capture the customer feedback that guides product development, and work cross-functionally to prepare Customer Success Plans. Exceptional candidates will also bring experience deploying security technology on campus, such as video management, access control, emergency notification, or computer-aided dispatch.
This is a remote role. Travel of 50 to 75% is required to support customer engagements, field activities, deployments, team onsites, and company events.
This role reports to the Senior Manager, Solutions Engineering – State, Local, Educational (SLED) Corrections, Campus, and Ports Security.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The SLED Solutions Engineering team is the technical arm of Skydio's state and local go-to-market motion. We sit between the agency and the product: turning operational problems into program designs, proving capability in the field, and making sure Skydio's products are used, integrated, and flown at scale.
The team is measured on technical win rate, trial and proof of concept outcomes, program expansion, site assessment quality, and the requirements we push back into the product organization.
Solutions Engineers are critical members of the Skydio organization and work closely with Key Account Leaders, Engineering, and Product to support deal progression, customer confidence, successful deployments, and the long-term success of Public Safety sUAS programs.
HOW YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT
- Collaborate with campus police and public safety departments to understand their security operations and develop tailored drone solutions as a trusted expert and an integral member of the account team.
- Conduct product demonstrations and lead dock trials on campus, working within department policies, campus event schedules, and the expectations of students, faculty, and administration.
- Ensure the smooth integration of technology into campus operations and existing systems, including computer-aided dispatch, video management, access control, and emergency notification, and support university IT, privacy, and cybersecurity reviews.
- Own site assessment quality in your accounts. Solutions Engineers are the DRI for verifying a dock location before deployment, and the quality of the resulting installation reflects on the team.
- Run proofs of concept to a standard: structured deployments tied to an active opportunity with measurable operational value, not casual evaluations.
- Support the airspace path your programs need, including BVLOS approvals, waivers, COAs, remote and docked operations, and flights over populated areas and large campus events.
- Gather and analyze customer feedback to inform product improvements, work with cross-functional teams on Customer Success Plans, and help build the trial templates, site survey guides, and SOPs for this new segment.
WHAT MAKES YOU A GOOD FIT
- Deep understanding of campus public safety operations, including patrol, calls for service, dispatch, special event security, and emergency response.
- 5+ years of experience in a campus police or public safety department, or in municipal law enforcement with campus responsibilities.
- Understanding of how technology is approved, deployed, and adopted on a campus, including the role of IT, privacy, legal, and student and faculty stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of drone technology, sUAS operations, and regulatory compliance.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically in high-pressure situations.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication. You can brief an officer, a chief of police, and a university president without changing the facts.
- Comfort operating inside a Sales organization, including the judgment to know when to commit technical time and when to decline.
NICE TO HAVE
- Prior service in a campus public safety supervisory or leadership role, such as sergeant, lieutenant, emergency manager, or chief.
- Experience standing up a Drone as First Responder or campus UAS program from waiver through go-live, and with dock-based, remote, and BVLOS operations.
- Familiarity with the standards and requirements campus customers work under, including the Clery Act and accreditation through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).
- Familiarity with grant funding pathways and cooperative purchasing vehicles used by public colleges, universities, and state agencies.
- Working knowledge of Salesforce or equivalent CRM tools.
WHAT IS REQUIRED
- FAA Part 107 Certificate, or the ability to obtain one within 60 days of hire.
- Ability to travel 50 to 75% of the time.
- Ability to lift up to 60 lbs unaided.
- Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions.
Compensation: At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual salary + commission range for this position is $150,000 - $200,000*. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company’s group health insurance plans. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company’s policies and eligibility criteria.
*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position’s location.
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At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.
For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
