Counsel, Land Use

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a seasoned Land Use Counsel to lead land use, zoning, and permitting initiatives for customer sites and charging infrastructure nationwide, reporting to the Deputy General Counsel and based at the South San Francisco HQ.

In this role you will work with Operations, Real Estate, and Engineering to align legal strategies with technical realities while engaging regulators and communities across major markets.

Qualifications

• Strong command of U.S. land use, zoning, and municipal law.
• Experience obtaining complex or first-of-their-kind regulatory approvals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with regulators and communities.
• Pragmatic risk assessment with independent judgment.
• Track record delivering high-stakes regulatory approvals under tight timelines.

Responsibilities

• Secure operational land use, zoning, and permitting approvals in key U.S. markets.
• Interpret and analyze municipal ordinances affecting Zipline operations.
• Build and maintain relationships with municipalities, planning and zoning commissions, city councils, and staff.
• Represent Zipline in public hearings and stakeholder meetings on land use and zoning matters.
• Address complex property matters including easements, boundaries, and access rights.
• Align legal strategies with Operations, Real Estate, and Engineering teams.
• Advise the Legal Team on novel or urgent state and local legal issues as needed.

Skills

Land use law

Regulatory approvals

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Negotiation

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

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 is entering a period of rapid expansion across the U.S., and we’re seeking a seasoned Land Use Counsel to lead our efforts in securing and maintaining land use and zoning approvals for customer sites and charging infrastructure nationwide. This role sits at the intersection of municipal, environmental, commercial, and property law. You will partner closely with Zipline’s operations, real estate, and customer success teams to enable the rapid and repeatable deployment of Zipline’s uncrewed aerial systems and related infrastructure across metropolitan regions. This position reports to Zipline’s Deputy General Counsel and is based at our South San Francisco HQ.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute Zipline’s strategy for securing operationally critical land use, zoning, and permitting approvals in key U.S. markets—including Texas, Arizona, and other major metropolitan areas.
• Interpret, draft, and analyze municipal ordinances affecting Zipline’s operations and site development.
• Build and maintain relationships with municipalities, planning and zoning commissions, city councils, and local staff.
• Support community engagement efforts and represent Zipline in public hearings and stakeholder meetings regarding land use and zoning matters.
• Address and resolve complex property law matters, including easements, boundary lines, and access rights.
• Partner with Operations, Real Estate, and Engineering teams to ensure legal strategies align with technical and operational realities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor within the Legal Team, stepping in to address novel or urgent state and local legal issues as Zipline’s business evolves.

What You’ll Bring

• A strong command of U.S. land use, zoning, and municipal law, with experience obtaining complex or first-of-their-kind regulatory approvals.
• At least 5 years of relevant legal practice, ideally including a mix of law firm and in‑house experience.
• Persuasive written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage regulators and community stakeholders with diplomacy and credibility.
• Pragmatic, business‑oriented risk assessment skills, with the ability to make confident, independent judgment calls and escalate when appropriate.
• A proven track record of delivering high‑stakes regulatory approvals under tight timelines, while maintaining composure and focus.
• A proactive, resourceful mindset with an eagerness to tackle novel challenges and shape scalable regulatory strategies.
• Unwavering ethics, strong relationship‑building instincts, and the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams.

What Else You Need To Know

• JD Degree required
• Member in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar
• Must be eligible to work in the United States

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. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!