Network Specialist – Launch Team

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 seeking a Network Specialist to make sure every dock we deploy can reach the network it needs, and stays connected after launch. Our docks run on customer networks in city halls, fire stations, substations, and corporate campuses, each with its own firewall, security policy, and IT team. You will work with those teams before installation to get the dock's network path approved and built, support Deployment Engineering when connectivity is the blocker, and troubleshoot docks that drop offline after launch. This role is focused on networking. You will work alongside our Network and Linux Specialist, who owns self-hosted and on-premise deployments, and take on the network workload across our cloud-connected dock programs.

This is a remote role. Travel of up to 40% is required to support site surveys, customer engagements, deployments, team onsites, and company events. This is a customer facing role and you will need to be comfortable and experienced talking to customers, of varying levels of technical expertise.

About the Team

The Launch Team is the operational arm of Skydio's dock business. We sit between the opportunity and the running program, and readiness means everything a customer needs to launch. We do not perform every piece of that work, but we project manage the customer to all of it and are accountable for the date.

Network readiness is one of the items most likely to move a launch date. A firewall change request, a security review, or a cellular plan can take weeks on the customer's side, so the earlier it starts, the sooner the dock is in the ground. The team is measured on time-to-launch, readiness gate adherence, deployment schedule performance, and the condition of the program at handoff.

Network Specialists are critical members of the Skydio organization and work closely with Readiness Specialists, Solutions Engineers, Deployment Engineering, Integrations, Support, and Customer Success to support successful deployments, customer confidence, and the long-term success of dock programs.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Own network readiness for dock deployments: review each site's network design, firewall and allowlist requirements, and connectivity plan with the customer's IT and network administrators before the dock ships.

• Act as Skydio's technical point of contact for customer IT and security teams. Answer security questionnaires, explain the dock's traffic, ports, and protocols, and work change requests through corporate firewalls and infosec policies.

• Design and validate connectivity for each site, including wired Ethernet and PoE, VLANs and static addressing, NAT and VPN, WiFi, and LTE or 5G cellular backhaul, and confirm the site has the bandwidth live video needs.

• Support Deployment Engineering on site and remotely when the network is the blocker, and debug connectivity outages on launched docks, wherever and whenever they occur.

• Build the network playbook: standard network requirements, pre-install validation tests, site survey checklists, and troubleshooting runbooks that Readiness Specialists and Support can use without escalating.

• Turn what you see across deployments into prioritized, defensible feedback for Product and Engineering on dock networking, diagnostics, and configuration.

What Makes You a Good Fit

• 4+ years in network engineering, network administration, or a customer-facing networking role.

• Strong hands-on experience with TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, routing, NAT, VPNs, and firewall policy, and with diagnosing connectivity problems using packet captures and standard network tools.

• Experience with enterprise firewalls and network equipment such as Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, or Meraki.

• Working knowledge of WiFi and cellular networking, including LTE or 5G routers, signal assessment, and carrier data plans.

• Comfortable communicating directly with customers of varying levels of technical knowledge, and explaining a network requirement clearly to people outside the project.

• Highly organized, with strong documentation habits and the discipline to keep the system of record current.

Nice to Have

• Networking certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CompTIA Network+, or PCNSA.

• Experience working on public sector networks, including CJIS or similar security requirements.

• Familiarity with Linux, basic scripting, and REST APIs.

• Experience with IoT devices, video streaming systems, or other physical equipment deployed on customer networks.

• Experience in UAS, public safety, or utilities.

What Is Required

• FAA Part 107 Certificate, or the ability to obtain one within 60 days of hire.

• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time.

• US Person required for working at US government facilities.

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 base salary range for this position is $100,000 - $145,000*. 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/