Engineering Test Technician (SMI)

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is hiring a Test Technician for our South San Francisco site. You will validate new designs, build and maintain tester equipment, and provide rapid feedback to engineering.

This hands-on role requires assembly, troubleshooting, and instrumentation expertise to improve reliability and efficiency. The position is 5 days on-site weekly, with responsibilities spanning prototype builds, test setup, data acquisition, and detailed documentation.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with prototype assembly and testing of electromechanical hardware.
• Background in diagnosing hardware and software failures and improving test setups.
• Experience with sensors, wiring, calibration, and data collection using DAQ systems.
• Proficiency in Python or C++ (or Java) and basic CAD modeling.
• Capable of precise documentation, attention to safety, and clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Build prototype test articles across design maturity stages and provide manufacturability feedback.
• Assemble, commission, maintain, and improve test equipment for validating aircraft hardware.
• Instrument test articles with sensors, wiring, calibrated DAQ systems, and data collection systems.
• Run mechanical and electrical tests on assembled prototypes while coordinating multiple builds.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software failures with engineers and implement improvements.
• Deliver complete test records with procedures, instrumentation, configurations, and results.

Skills

Prototype assembly

Troubleshooting

Sensors & DAQ

Python

C++

CAD

Soldering

Documentation

Tools

CAD software

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

The hardware test environment is a multi-disciplinary team responsible for building and maintaining Zipline’s engineering prototype fleet. As a Test Technician, you’ll play a key role in validating new designs, building and maintaining tester equipment, and providing rapid feedback to engineering teams. This is a highly hands‑on role that requires a strong background in assembly, troubleshooting, and instrumentation, along with the ability to clearly communicate issues and propose improvements that increase reliability and efficiency.

This role is 100% on‑site at our South San Francisco office, 5 days per week.

What You’ll Do

• Build prototype test articles across design maturity stages and provide manufacturability, assembly, and efficiency feedback to engineers.
• Assemble, commission, maintain, and improve test equipment used to validate aircraft hardware.
• Instrument test articles with sensors, wiring, calibrated DAQ systems, and data collection systems to produce accurate, repeatable measurements.
• Run mechanical and electrical tests on assembled prototypes while coordinating multiple prototype builds.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software failures with Electrical and Embedded Software Engineers and implement test equipment reliability improvements.
• Deliver complete test records with approved procedures, calibrated instrumentation, traceable configurations, results, and documented failures to support validation gates and hardware release‑readiness decisions.

What You’ll Bring

• At least 2 years of professional experience in a build or test technician role supporting electromechanical hardware preferred.
• Hands‑on experience with prototype assembly, manufacturing, troubleshooting, and test setup development.
• Working ability with sensors, DAQ systems, wiring, calibration, and test data collection.
• Experience writing code in Python, Java, C++, or a similar language preferred.
• Ability to model simple parts in CAD preferred.
• Practical capability in several areas including soldering, harnessing, machine‑shop work, technical documentation, or data analysis.
• Careful craftsmanship, clear technical communication, and comfort working under time pressure.
• Ability to work onsite in South San Francisco five days weekly, lift 30 lbs, use required PPE including respirators, and support shifts or overtime during high‑demand periods.

Other Requirements

• Ability to lift and move up to 30 lbs
• Comfort working with tools, chemicals, and hardware in a lab/manufacturing environment (including respirator use when required)
• Flexibility to support multiple shift schedules or overtime during high‑demand periods

What Else You Need to Know

The starting cash range for this role is $36-$50/hour. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash pay for this role will depend on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, working location, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may also include: equity compensation; overtime pay; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; and more.

Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by state, federal or local law or our other policies.

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.