Failure Analysis Engineer

About the role

Skydio is seeking a skilled Failure Analysis Engineer to join our Operations team in Hayward, California. This is a full-time position offering a competitive base salary of $147,000 - $170,000, plus equity and benefits. The ideal candidate will be responsible for diagnosing and resolving critical issues within our drone systems. A core focus of this role is performing in-depth root cause analysis to drive improvements across the entire product lifecycle, from initial design through to field deployment. You will investigate complex failures, determine their origin, and implement actions to prevent recurrence. This position is essential for enhancing product reliability and accelerating our market speed. The role requires a high level of independence, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Your findings will directly impact the quality and performance of Skydio's drone platforms.

What you'll do

Your primary responsibility will be to conduct detailed failure analysis on products returned from the field, manufacturing defects identified during production, and unforeseen field failures. You will investigate a wide range of drone components, including but not limited to Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), power systems, batteries, cameras, and various sensors. To systematically determine the origin of problems, you will apply established methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). You will develop and execute specific diagnostic procedures to evaluate failed products and isolate the root cause. This will involve performing precise electrical measurements using tools such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, and logic analyzers. A strong ability to interpret complex circuit schematics and PCB layouts is essential for this role. You will analyze data to identify failure trends emerging from both production and field data, enabling proactive improvements. Based on your analysis, you will recommend design improvements to boost product reliability and performance. You will then drive the implementation of corrective and preventive actions in collaboration with various engineering and production teams. This includes a deep dive into component-level failures, such as those involving Integrated Circuits (ICs), MOSFETs, and connectors. You will also evaluate solder quality, identify PCB defects, and assess mechanical failures. A key part of the role is preparing comprehensive failure analysis reports that detail the root cause, evidence, and recommended actions. You will be responsible for maintaining robust failure databases and reliability metrics to track long-term trends. This role requires close collaboration with Design, Hardware, Software, Manufacturing, and Supplier Quality teams to ensure issues are resolved efficiently and effectively.

Requirements

To be considered for this Failure Analysis Engineer role, you must possess a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant technical field. Acceptable degrees include Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Instrumentation Engineering, Embedded Systems, or Aerospace Engineering with an electronics specialization. A graduate degree is often preferred. You must bring 3 to 8 years of professional experience specifically in failure analysis, reliability engineering, hardware validation, or product quality. Prior experience with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, robotics, automotive electronics, aerospace, consumer electronics, or industrial electronics is highly valued and demonstrates relevant domain knowledge. As part of your onboarding, you will be required to obtain FAA Part 107 certification within 60 days of employment, as this is critical for operating in our test and field environments.

Nice to have

While not mandatory, experience with Spectrum Analyzers is a distinct advantage for this position, as it allows for deeper investigation of electronic emissions and signal integrity issues.

Skills & tools

Success in this role hinges on your proficiency with a specific set of skills and tools. You must be highly skilled in using an oscilloscope, digital multimeter, and logic analyzer. Experience with a spectrum analyzer, power analyzer, and thermal camera is also beneficial for a comprehensive analysis. You must be well-versed in structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone Diagram, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). The ability to use Pareto Analysis to prioritize issues is also expected.

Practical notes

Please note that this role is based in Hayward, California, United States. Relocation assistance may be available for eligible candidates to facilitate a smooth transition. The total compensation package includes paid vacation, sick leave, holiday pay, and a 401K savings plan. Skydio utilizes E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility for all required positions.