Droid Systems Hardware Test Engineer

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline seeks a hands-on hardware test engineer to own the ground test strategy for the droid and its interaction with zipping point infrastructure. You will design, build, and deploy mechanical life‑test rigs, environmental fixtures, and automated bring‑up stations that prove system reliability at scale.

You’ll write Python automation, capture data, perform pass/fail evaluations, and drive campaigns from prototype validation through production end‑of‑line testing.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related field; 3+ years hands-on electromechanical hardware or test software.
• Experience designing mechanical hardware in CAD (Siemens NX).
• Reading schematics, wiring fixtures, debugging with a scope, selecting sensors for tests.
• Real Python experience with test automation, data processing, or bench-top control software.
• Systems approach to problem solving across mechanics, electronics, firmware, or their interaction.
• Strong fabrication / prototyping instincts; comfortable in a machine shop and soldering station.
• Ability to discern real test signals from fixture issues.

Responsibilities

• Own the ground test strategy for the droid and its interaction with zipping point infrastructure - from pickup/drop-off mechanics to tether engagement and environmental exposure.
• Design, build, and deploy custom mechanical test fixtures and life-test rigs from concept to bring-up and long-duration operation.
• Develop electrical and instrumentation aspects of test systems: Load cells, thermocouples, encoders, current sensing, motor drivers, pneumatic actuators, DAQ, safety interlocks.
• Write Python automation for tests, including data logging, live health monitoring, pass/fail evaluation, and integration into the broader test framework.
• Drive test campaigns from early prototype validation through life testing and production end-of-line testing.
• Triage and root-cause failures across mechanical, electrical, and firmware domains with data-driven campaigns.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing engineers to improve reliability; push back on requirements when needed.
• Travel occasionally to suppliers and manufacturing partners to deploy test equipment and qualify processes.

Skills

Python scripting

Electrical/electromechanical hardware

Systems thinking

Fabrication & prototyping

Education

BS or MS in Mechanical Eng./Mechatronics/Robotics

Tools

Siemens NX

Job description

Zipline seeks a hands-on hardware test engineer to own the ground test strategy for the droid and its interaction with zipping point infrastructure. You will design, build, and deploy mechanical life‑test rigs, environmental fixtures, and automated bring‑up stations that prove system reliability at scale.

You’ll write Python automation, capture data, perform pass/fail evaluations, and drive campaigns from prototype validation through production end‑of‑line testing.