Flight Hardware Test Engineer - Structures & Mechanisms

Namely; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline designs, builds, tests, and operates autonomous delivery aircraft that must perform across diverse environments. You will own mechanical heavy test and validation for flight-critical assemblies and system-level behaviors, developing test methods, equipment, automation, and evidence to prove performance while balancing speed and rigor.

This role spans test strategy, fixture design, instrumentation, data analysis, and failure investigation.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in test engineering for flight-critical hardware.
• Ability to design and build mechanical test fixtures and automation.
• Experience with sensors, data acquisition, and test instrumentation.]
• Strong CAD skills and ability to prototype hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test stands and fixtures for structural components.
• Lead end-to-end validation campaigns from prototype to fleet deployment.
• Develop verification plans with coverage, margins, and acceptance criteria.
• Lead failure investigations and drive root-cause corrective actions.
• Coordinate with design, systems, and manufacturing teams to communicate test assets and evidence.

Skills

Test campaign ownership

Mechanical test rigs

Sensor integration

Data analysis

Python tooling

Tools

CAD

Job description

Zipline designs, builds, tests, and operates autonomous delivery aircraft that must perform across diverse environments. You will own mechanical heavy test and validation for flight-critical assemblies and system-level behaviors, developing test methods, equipment, automation, and evidence to prove performance while balancing speed and rigor.

This role spans test strategy, fixture design, instrumentation, data analysis, and failure investigation.