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 an experienced public safety training leader responsible for designing, governing and scaling a national DFR training ecosystem. This role defines how DFR is taught, interpreted, and defended in the field. The result is that DFR is adopted as a standardized, defensible, and policy-aligned operational capability, not a side program.
This function works tightly with, but is not the same, as Skydio product training. While it is vital our customers know how the systems work, this function will define how the systems are used responsibly at scale throughout a public safety agency. This role is responsible for operational doctrine, policy alignment, certification standards, and defensibility, not feature instruction or system walkthroughs.
This is a strategic, category-defining role, not a training support function.
Location: This position is ideally based at Skydio’s headquarters in San Mateo, California, but we’re open to strong candidates based in other locations across the U.S.
How You’ll Make an Impact:
- Collaborate with the industry to develop the reference standard used by agencies, partners, and courts to define “trained” and “qualified” DFR operations
- Work closely with customer agencies to develop and execute curriculum to embed DFR into everyday patrol, RTCC, and supervisory workflows, not as a specialized program.
- Curate relationships with regional training facilities as needed to ensure quality and consistency of course delivery
- Ensure a national consistency in how DFR is trained and evaluated through standardized curricula
- Design and implement a tiered DFR certification framework spanning operators, instructors, supervisors and program leaders
- Enable scale through a governed, certified instructor ecosystem
- Champion and guide the adoption of DFR in all relevant SOPs across the public safety domain.
- Work hand-in-hand with the Skydio product training team and associated partners to ensure alignment and smart use of resources
What Makes You a Good Fit:
- You are a public safety training professional with experience building, governing or standardizing agency-wide or multi-agency training programs (preferably for a major agency or on a State level)
- You are proficient and comfortable with technology as well as real-world operational workflows within law enforcement
- You have direct experience working with POST/State accreditation bodies, instructor certification and credentialing models
- You’ve had success owning training programs in high-liability environments and are fluent in understanding the needs of senior and legal stakeholders and external oversight bodies
- You have an entrepreneurial spirit. You love building from zero and relish the opportunity to create a program that’s never been done before.
- You have no fear of being in the details, nor rolling up your sleeves and doing whatever it takes to be successful.
- You have outstanding interpersonal, verbal, written communication, presentation, and process facilitation skills with the ability to present views in a compelling manner
- You are a highly-collaborative team player with the knowledge, intellect and temperament to work effectively in a fast-paced, energetic and complex environment. You shudder at the thought of a 9-5 job.
- Experience with drones or DFR is not a requirement.
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 $150,000 - $210,000*. 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/