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Autonomy Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Skyways

Autonomy Lead

Austin, TX · On-site

$101K - $133K/yr

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for ...

Skyways

Autonomy Lead

Austin, TX · On-site

$101K - $133K/yr

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for ...

Skyways

Autonomy Lead

Austin, TX

$101K - $133K/yr

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for ...

Persona AI

Autonomy Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$99K - $137K/yr

Senior Autonomy Engineer Department: Software Reports To: Behavior Coordination Lead Employment Type: Full-Time Location: Houston, TX Travel: 10% Who We Are Persona AI is building humanoid robots for ...

Jobtailor

Senior Autonomy Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Design and implement autonomy modules including path planning, task allocation, behavior trees, and reactive execution models. * Develop and maintain the autonomy framework that integrates with ...

Caterpillar

Autonomy Development Engineer

Irving, TX · On-site

$97K - $158K/yr

The Autonomy Development Engineer II develops and delivers production-quality software that enables autonomous and semi-autonomous functionality for heavy equipment in mining and construction ...

Waabi

Lead Product Manager, Autonomy

Dallas, TX · On-site

$165K - $260K/yr

With a world-class team, we're unlocking the next era of autonomous transportation with technology that's powering commercial autonomous trucks and robotaxis. Waabi is backed by and partners with ...

Waabi

Lead Product Manager, Autonomy

Dallas, TX · On-site

$165K - $260K/yr

With a world-class team, we're unlocking the next era of autonomous transportation with technology that's powering commercial autonomous trucks and robotaxis. Waabi is backed by and partners with ...

Caterpillar

Robotics Engineering Manager

Irving, TX · On-site

$159K - $238K/yr

The Robotics Planning team focuses on advanced autonomy planning technologies, including reusable planning platforms, algorithms, APIs, validation frameworks, and capabilities that enable autonomous ...

Caterpillar

Senior Autonomy Engineer

Irving, TX · On-site

As a Senior Autonomy Engineer, your responsibilities in software development will be focused on positioning and localization, you'll collaborate with team members to prototype and bring to production ...

Shield AI

Chief Engineer, Autonomy (R4614)

Dallas, TX

$200K - $300K/yr

Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle ...

Shield AI

Chief Engineer, Autonomy (R4614)

Dallas, TX · On-site

Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle ...

Velaura

Robotics & Autonomy Systems Architect

Austin, TX · On-site

$200 - $500/hr

You will analyze the architecture of robotics and autonomous systems--from sensors and perception pipelines to planning, control, and onboard compute--and help translatethese requirements into ...

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All JobsAutonomy JobsAutonomy Jobs in Texas

Autonomy information

See Texas salary details

$42.7K

$146.1K

$255.5K

How much do autonomy jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for autonomy in Texas is $146,080.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,212.00 and $188,638.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an autonomy engineer?

Autonomy engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain autonomous systems, such as self-driving vehicles, drones, or robotics. Their work focuses on enabling machines to perform tasks without constant human intervention by integrating sensors, control algorithms, and artificial intelligence. Autonomy engineers often collaborate with software developers, hardware engineers, and data scientists to ensure the safe and efficient operation of autonomous technologies. Their expertise is crucial in industries like automotive, aerospace, and robotics, where automation and intelligent systems are rapidly advancing.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an autonomous systems engineer?

To thrive as an Autonomous Systems Engineer, you need a solid background in robotics, computer science, and control systems, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency with programming languages (such as Python or C++), simulation tools (like ROS or Gazebo), and experience with AI or machine learning frameworks are commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective teamwork set top performers apart in this role. These skills are crucial for designing, developing, and improving autonomous technologies that function reliably in complex, real-world environments.

What are common challenges faced by professionals working in autonomy?

Professionals in the autonomy field often encounter challenges related to integrating complex hardware and software systems, ensuring safety and reliability, and keeping up with rapidly evolving technology. Collaborating across multidisciplinary teams—such as robotics, AI, and systems engineering—is essential to address these challenges effectively. Additionally, testing autonomous solutions in real-world environments to handle unpredictable scenarios is a critical part of the role, requiring strong problem-solving skills and adaptability.

What is the difference between Autonomy vs Project Manager?

AspectAutonomyProject Manager
Required credentialsTypically none; skills in decision-making and independenceProject management certifications (PMP, CAPM), relevant experience
Work environmentIndependent, self-directed roles, often in consulting or freelance workTeam-based, coordinating projects within organizations
Employer and industry usageUsed across various industries for roles emphasizing independenceCommon in construction, IT, marketing, and corporate sectors

Autonomy refers to the degree of independence in decision-making and work execution, often in roles that require self-direction. Project Managers focus on planning, executing, and closing projects within organizations, often working within structured teams. While Autonomy emphasizes independence, Project Managers operate within defined project scopes and organizational frameworks.

What is autonomy in a career?

Autonomy in a career refers to the degree of independence and control a worker has over their tasks, schedule, and decision-making. Jobs with high autonomy often involve self-management, flexibility, and the ability to prioritize work, which can improve job satisfaction and productivity.

What jobs give you autonomy?

Jobs that offer high autonomy include roles such as freelance writers, software developers, and consultants, where individuals can set their own schedules and work independently. These positions often require self-motivation, strong time management skills, and sometimes specific technical tools or certifications. Autonomy levels can vary depending on the industry and employer policies.

What are popular job titles related to Autonomy jobs in Texas?

For Autonomy jobs in Texas, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Autonomy jobs in Texas look for?

The top searched job categories for Autonomy jobs in Texas are:

What cities in Texas are hiring for Autonomy jobs?

Cities in Texas with the most Autonomy job openings:

Autonomy jobs near you
Infographic showing various Autonomy job openings in Texas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 66% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 6% Temporary, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,080 per year, or $70.2 per hour.

Autonomy Lead

Skyways

Austin, TX • On-site

$101K - $133K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 20 hours ago

Job description

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real-world operations.

Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, while our next-generation V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000+ miles with 20+ hours of endurance. Both use a hybrid-electric architecture that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane, enabling long-range autonomous delivery without traditional runway infrastructure.

Today, Skyways aircraft operate across three continents in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight and in support of U.S. military operations. We are transitioning from prototype development to full-rate production and scaling toward large autonomous cargo fleets.

Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force, Skyways is creating a new form of transportation to advance our civilization from Austin, Texas.

The Opportunity

This role owns how autonomy works in real-world flight, and it owns the small team that builds it.


You will define how perception, state estimation, planning, and flight behaviors come together into a system that actually completes missions reliably. This is not about building isolated components. It is about making the full stack work under real constraints, and about leading a team of autonomy engineers to do the same.

You will shape how our ML systems improve with real-world data and ensure they perform outside of ideal conditions. You will lead technical direction for autonomy while remaining deeply hands-on in architecture, implementation, testing, and flight debugging. Your work directly impacts mission success, aircraft reliability, and operational deployment at fleet scale.

We are looking for someone who has already built and deployed autonomy systems on real-world robotic or UAV platforms, and who wants to grow a team while staying close to the code.

What You'll Do:

  • Own the end-to-end autonomy stack across perception, estimation, planning, and system behavior

  • Lead, manage, and grow a team of autonomy engineers, including hiring, onboarding, performance, and development

  • Be accountable for your team's output, technical standards, morale, and retention

  • Define system architecture and make tradeoffs across reliability, performance, and operational complexity

  • Set technical direction for autonomy while remaining hands-on in critical technical areas

  • Drive integration across autonomy, GNC, mission planning, and aircraft systems

  • Own how autonomy is validated across simulation, ground testing, and flight operations

  • Use flight data, telemetry, and operational feedback to identify failures and improve system performance

  • Drive how datasets, evaluation pipelines, and iteration loops improve deployed autonomy systems

  • Debug real-world autonomy failures and close gaps between controlled testing and operational deployment

  • Work closely with flight operations and hardware teams to improve reliability in real environments

What You'll Bring:

  • Experience building and deploying autonomy systems on real robotic or UAV platforms

  • Experience leading and developing engineers, including direct people management or a clear track toward it

  • Strong system-level understanding across perception, estimation, and planning, with depth in at least one area

  • Experience taking autonomy systems from development through operational deployment and iteration

  • Strong proficiency in C++ and Python

  • Experience debugging real-world autonomy failures using logs, telemetry, and system-level analysis

  • Experience working across software, hardware, and flight or field operations

  • Ability to make practical engineering tradeoffs under real operational constraints

  • Experience improving ML or perception systems using real-world operational data

Bonus Points If You Have:

  • Experience with autonomous aircraft or aerial systems

  • Background in robotics, computer vision, or motion planning

  • Experience with real-time or embedded systems

  • Familiarity with ROS2 or similar robotics frameworks

  • Experience deploying autonomy or ML systems to resource-constrained environments

Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more!

Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations.

Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.