Avionics Technician

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline in South San Francisco seeks an Avionics Technician to build, test, and troubleshoot avionics hardware across development and qualification stages.

You will work closely with engineers to translate early designs into reliable hardware, identify issues, and improve assembly processes in a fast-paced setting. This in-person role requires travel to suppliers or deployment sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience assembling, testing, reworking, or troubleshooting electronics, avionics, robotics, or similar hardware.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, modify, and rework PCBAs, flex circuits, wiring harnesses, connectors, sensors, antennas, and electromechanical assemblies.
• Perform precision soldering, crimping, cable routing, bonding, fastening, and mechanical integration.
• Execute functional, electrical, environmental, and qualification tests using documented procedures.
• Troubleshoot hardware using schematics, wiring diagrams, test procedures, and lab instrumentation.
• Support prototype builds, engineering experiments, design changes, failure investigations, and production ramp.
• Record build issues, test results, nonconformances, and hardware configuration with clear supporting evidence.
• Provide feedback to engineers on assembly difficulty, workmanship risks, test coverage, and opportunities to improve designs or processes.
• Create and improve work instructions, test procedures, fixtures, and inspection criteria.
• Maintain ESD, workmanship, configuration‑control, lab‑safety, and equipment‑readiness standards.
• Occasionally support work at suppliers, manufacturing facilities, test sites, or deployment locations.

Skills

Electronics assembly

Avionics testing

Robotics hardware

Schematic reading

Lab equipment

Independent work

Tools

Multimeters

Oscilloscopes

Power supplies

Electronic loads

Job description

About Zipline

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today, Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date, including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products.

Our customers include the world’s largest and most prominent healthcare systems, governments, retailers, restaurants and global businesses who rely on us to save lives, reduce emissions, increase economic opportunity, and provide delivery from point A to point B as fast as possible. The drone is only 15% of what we’ve built to enable seamless, reliable, global operations.

Our system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back. With more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown, Zipline is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food across the globe.

We operate at a global scale and are looking for practical problem solvers who thrive on real‑world challenges and rapid growth. Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct, meaningful impact on people’s lives and by scaling the future of logistics. We are seeking people who sculpt from first principles, enjoy facing adversity, and can do the impossible at record breaking speeds.

About You And The Role

Zipline builds and operates autonomous delivery systems that move critical goods reliably and safely. The Avionics team develops and supports the electronics, sensors, communications hardware, wiring, and electromechanical assemblies used across our aircraft, droids, and ground systems.

As an Avionics Technician, you will build, rework, test, and troubleshoot avionics hardware throughout development and qualification. You will partner closely with engineers to turn early designs into reliable hardware, identify build and design issues, and improve the processes used to assemble and test our systems.

This is a hands‑on individual‑contributor role without people‑management responsibilities.

What You’ll Do

• Assemble, modify, and rework PCBAs, flex circuits, wiring harnesses, connectors, sensors, antennas, and electromechanical assemblies.
• Perform precision soldering, crimping, cable routing, bonding, fastening, and mechanical integration.
• Execute functional, electrical, environmental, and qualification tests using documented procedures.
• Troubleshoot hardware using schematics, wiring diagrams, test procedures, and lab instrumentation.
• Support prototype builds, engineering experiments, design changes, failure investigations, and production ramp.
• Record build issues, test results, nonconformances, and hardware configuration with clear supporting evidence.
• Provide feedback to engineers on assembly difficulty, workmanship risks, test coverage, and opportunities to improve designs or processes.
• Create and improve work instructions, test procedures, fixtures, and inspection criteria.
• Maintain ESD, workmanship, configuration‑control, lab‑safety, and equipment‑readiness standards.
• Occasionally support work at suppliers, manufacturing facilities, test sites, or deployment locations.

What You’ll Bring

• Hands‑on experience assembling, testing, reworking, or troubleshooting electronics, avionics, robotics, or similar hardware.
• Strong soldering, crimping, connector, harnessing, and electronics‑assembly skills.
• Ability to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, mechanical drawings, BOMs, and work instructions.
• Experience using digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, electronic loads, and other common lab equipment.
• Ability to troubleshoot systematically, document findings clearly, and recognize when a problem should be escalated.
• Careful workmanship and disciplined adherence to ESD, safety, documentation, and configuration‑control requirements.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with engineers and other technicians.
• Comfort working in a fast‑paced development environment where hardware and processes continue to evolve.
• Ability to work in person in South San Francisco and travel occasionally as program needs require.

Nice to Have

• IPC J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620, or equivalent certification.
• Experience with aerospace, robotics, automotive, medical‑device, or other high‑reliability hardware.
• Experience with RF hardware, antennas, flex circuits, fine‑pitch rework, environmental testing, or electronics failure analysis.
• Experience developing work instructions, test fixtures, or repeatable assembly processes.

What Success Looks Like

• Avionics hardware is built and tested safely, correctly, and on schedule.
• Build and test results are documented clearly and remain traceable to the correct hardware configuration.
• Problems are identified early and escalated with useful technical evidence.
• Workmanship defects, rework, and recurring build issues decrease over time.
• Engineers can rely on you for consistent execution and practical feedback that improves hardware and processes.

What Else You Need To Know

Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws or our own sensibilities.

We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Zipline ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.