Drone Maintenance Tooling Intern — Prototyping & Design

Zipline; Esparto (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Relocation support

Overtime pay

Paid sick time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a hands-on Mechanical Design Intern for our Service Tooling & Processes Team in Esparto, CA. You will design, validate, and field tools enabling technicians to service drone and ground systems safely and efficiently.

You’ll collaborate with hardware and tooling engineers, prototype rapidly, and iterate at our high-volume test facility, with tools deployed across Zipline operations. This in-person internship runs Spring 2027, January–April 2027, at $37/hour.

Qualifications

• Strong grasp of mechanical design principles (statics, dynamics, materials)
• Proficiency with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, Fusion)
• Hands-on prototyping experience (3D printing, fabrication, welding)
• Clear communication and cross-functional collaboration
• On-site work at Esparto, CA facility daily

Responsibilities

• Design and prototype tools for drone and ground system maintenance.
• Work with hardware and tooling engineers to create solutions.
• Iterate designs based on feedback from test facilities.
• Create usage documentation and train staff as tools roll out.

Skills

Mechanical design

CAD (NX)

CAD (SolidWorks)

CAD (Fusion)

Prototyping

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

On-site work

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

Job description

Zipline is seeking a hands-on Mechanical Design Intern for our Service Tooling & Processes Team in Esparto, CA. You will design, validate, and field tools enabling technicians to service drone and ground systems safely and efficiently.

You’ll collaborate with hardware and tooling engineers, prototype rapidly, and iterate at our high-volume test facility, with tools deployed across Zipline operations. This in-person internship runs Spring 2027, January–April 2027, at $37/hour.