Robbie Van Zyl
About Robbie Van Zyl
Robbie Van Zyl is a Propulsion Engineer specializing in hardware development engineering, currently employed at Skydio in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has a background in mechanical design and embedded systems, with experience in various engineering roles across multiple companies.
Current Role as Propulsion Engineer
Robbie Van Zyl currently serves as a Propulsion Engineer in Hardware Development Engineering at Skydio. He has been in this role since 2024, working for seven months in the San Francisco Bay Area. His responsibilities include focusing on mechanical design and embedded systems, contributing to the development of advanced propulsion systems for drones.
Previous Experience at Skydio
Before his current position, Robbie worked at Skydio as a Hardware Development Engineer in the Prototyping Lab for three months in 2023. During this time, he contributed to the hardware development processes, enhancing his skills in prototyping and engineering design within the drone technology sector.
Engineering Background and Education
Robbie studied Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he completed his undergraduate degree from 2019 to 2023. His education provided a strong foundation in engineering principles, which he applies in his current and previous roles. He also attended McIntosh High School, where he earned a High School Diploma with a focus on engineering.
Diverse Engineering Experience
Robbie has a varied work history in engineering roles across multiple companies. He worked as an Area-I Mechanical Engineer at Anduril Industries for two months in 2021, as a Hardware Engineer at Parallel Systems for three months in 2022, and as a New Product Development Engineer at Tegnon for three months in 2019. Additionally, he has experience as an R&D Mechanical Engineer at UPS in their Advanced Technology Group.
Internship Experience
Robbie gained valuable experience through internships at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he worked in the Aerospace IPLE Lab in both 2017 and 2018 for two months each. These internships allowed him to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings, enhancing his skills in aerospace engineering and research.