Communications Manager, Local and Launch Communications

Zipline; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a Communications Manager in Austin, Texas to lead local-market launch communications and community engagement as drone delivery expands to food, medicine, retail, and everyday goods. You will craft narratives that resonate with residents and farmers alike and build trust around new services in our Texas launch markets.

The role focuses on local storytelling, media relations, and reputation management, coordinating with cross-functional teams to align launch efforts with

Qualifications

• Communications experience around launches, local markets, consumer services, technology, or public-facing operations
• Strong judgment for local storytelling and community reputation work
• Ability to manage multiple audiences across media, partners, civic groups, and internal teams
• Comfort explaining autonomous delivery in practical, everyday terms

Responsibilities

• Develop communications plans for new U.S. market launches
• Build relationships with local media, creators, community voices, and storytelling partners
• Turn Zipline's service model and autonomous logistics work into clear local narratives
• Coordinate with launch, operations, policy, marketing, and communications teams

Job description

What the role actually is

Zipline is hiring a communications manager for local and launch communications across Texas launch markets. The role focuses on building trust and excitement in new communities as the company expands drone delivery for food, medicine, retail, and other everyday goods.

This is local-market communications for a robotics service that people will see and hear in their neighborhoods. The person would work across earned media, creators, launch storytelling, community perception, and reputation building.

What you would work on

• Develop communications plans for new U.S. market launches
• Build relationships with local media, creators, community voices, and storytelling partners
• Turn Zipline's service model and autonomous logistics work into clear local narratives
• Coordinate with launch, operations, policy, marketing, and communications teams

What they are asking for

• Communications experience around launches, local markets, consumer services, technology, or public-facing operations
• Strong judgment for local storytelling and community reputation work
• Ability to manage multiple audiences across media, partners, civic groups, and internal teams
• Comfort explaining autonomous delivery in practical, everyday terms

Why this one is worth a look

Robotics adoption often happens locally before it happens nationally. This role is interesting because it sits at the first-contact layer: helping communities understand what drone delivery changes, what it does not, and why the service should be welcomed.