Staff Software Engineer - Security
Skydio
Listing collected from Skydio's career site. NextChapter is independent of Skydio.
San Mateo, CA · Posted June 3, 2026
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Where San Mateo, CA ranks
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November 2026
- #1Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living$216k · of 94
- #1Best cities for finance pay after cost of living$162k · of 35
- #1Best cities for HR pay after cost of living$158k · of 15
- #1Best cities for legal pay after cost of living$238k · of 20
- #1Best cities for security pay after cost of living$241k · of 10
- #1Best cities for media and entertainment pay after cost of living$209k · of 9
Rankings about security jobs
- Best cities for security jobs #1 San Francisco (316 openings)
- Best cities for security pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($241k)
- Most requested AI skills in security jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (10.8%)
- Employers with the most security jobs #1 Amazon (318 roles)
Pay compared with the market
This listing does not state pay. Across 416 open staff software engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $222,500 to $270,000 and the median is $242,500.
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Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
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.
About the Role:
As a Staff Software Engineer - Security at Skydio, you will partner closely with security engineers and cross-functional teams to design, review, and build systems that secure our multi-tenant cloud and corporate environments. You will split your time roughly evenly between architecture and hands-on engineering. On one side, you will review RFCs, shape system design, and advise on initiatives with meaningful security implications. On the other, you will build and harden internal security tooling end to end. You will play a key role in maturing the systems that protect Skydio’s commercial, government, and DoD customers.
How you’ll make an impact:
- Review RFCs and partner with engineering teams on architectural decisions that have security implications
- Design and build internal security systems end to end, including roadmap areas such as web application firewalls and vulnerability risk management tooling
- Harden and improve security-related production software components as opportunities for better resilience and protection are identified
- Partner with Compliance to translate FedRAMP, SOC 2, Texas RAMP, ISO 27001, and CJIS requirements into practical technical controls
- Improve how we monitor, prioritize, patch, and respond to vulnerabilities across our cloud footprint
- Contribute to authentication and identity systems across cloud and corporate environments, including SSO and SCIM implementations
- Participate in the security team’s on-call rotation
What makes you a good fit:
- 7+ years of experience in cloud security, platform security, infrastructure security, or a related security-focused engineering role
- Strong experience working in AWS, ideally in multi-tenant cloud environments
- Strong coding ability and comfort building and maintaining tooling in languages such as Python or Go
- Experience reviewing system designs and RFCs and providing clear, actionable security guidance
- Working knowledge of SIEM, vulnerability management, and related security tooling
- Comfort operating across both technical design and hands-on implementation in a role that spans both strategy and execution
- Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions
- This position requires access to export-controlled technology, technical data, and/or controlled information, including information subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and/or U.S. government contract requirements. Candidates must be eligible to access such information without additional U.S. government authorization, unless the company determines that any required authorization can be obtained
Nice to have:
- Experience working in FedRAMP, SOC 2, ISO 27001, Texas RAMP, or CJIS-aligned environments
- Experience building or deeply integrating authentication and identity systems, including SSO, SCIM, and front-door authentication
- Experience with Kubernetes debugging, operations, or automation
- Background supporting government, defense, or other highly regulated customers
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 $220,000 - $270,000*. 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/