Software Engineering Intern

Pyka • Alameda, CA

1d

About The Position

Pyka's goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation. To get there, we’re applying our technologies to every industry where autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems. We design, develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon-fiber composite airframes. Today, we supply autonomous electric aircraft for cargo transport and crop protection to real-world customers across four separate continents and have secured industry-first regulatory approvals from the FAA. Our cargo aircraft enables remote connectivity, enhances express delivery networks, and ensures fast and reliable shipping of critical supplies to areas in need. Our crop protection aircraft offers agricultural services providers and farmers an autonomous tool to make aerial application safer, more precise, and less harmful to surrounding environments. Both vehicles are highly economical to operate, easy to deploy, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions in their respective industries. What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one step closer each day.

We're looking for curious, driven software engineering students who want to work on real systems operating in the real world. As a Software Engineering Intern at Pyka, you'll be embedded directly within our Software Engineering team and take ownership of a focused project that supports our autonomous electric aircraft and the systems around them. We hire strong interns first, then match each intern to a project based on interests, strengths, and current company needs. Because the team is small and highly collaborative, interns work closely with experienced engineers, see how decisions are made, and contribute directly to systems used in simulation, testing, and flight operations. This is a hands-on internship with real responsibility, strong mentorship, and exposure to how software, hardware, and operations come together in an autonomous aviation system. We are hiring for fall start dates, with internship lengths starting at four months and flexible depending on the candidate's situation.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, or a related field, graduating in 2026 or 2027
• A genuine interest in in autonomous systems, robotics, aviation, safety-critical software, or sustainability
• Experience with C++
• Experience working in a Linux environment
• Familiarity with version control (e.g. Git)
• Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to work in a complex technical codebase

Responsibilities

• Own a well-scoped software project contributing to our autopilot stack, our ground control software, or our test infrastructure and analysis tools
• Develop, test, and iterate on software used in simulation, testing, or flight support
• Collaborate with engineers across software, hardware, and flight operations
• Investigate and debug issues discovered during testing or flight operations
• Present your work and what you’ve learned at the end of your internship

Benefits

• $40.00 p/hour pay. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly wage ranges are subject to change.
• Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance
• FSA with employer matching
• 401(k)
• Paid holidays, generous PTO, and additional unpaid time off
• Voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Free catered lunch and plenty of snacks

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed