Software Engineering Intern

Pyka

Pyka

Software Engineering

Alameda, CA, USA

Posted on May 7, 2026
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About Pyka
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 taking a different approach than most. 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.

About the Internship

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.

What You'll Do

  • 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

Required Qualifications


  • 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

Why You'll Love It Here

  • Own a real project with visible impact

  • Receive close mentorship from experienced engineers

  • Work on software that interacts with real aircraft and real operations

  • Gain exposure to autonomous systems in a production environment

  • Learn how complex, safety-critical systems are developed at an aerospace startup

  • Sometimes your “test run” ends with watching an aircraft take off

Compensation & 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

Export Control Requirements
This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls. Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items.
Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.
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We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.
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