Flight Test Operator – Autonomous Drone Systems

Zipline International Inc.; Half Moon Bay (CA); On-site; USD 50,971 - 61,992; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is hiring a hands‑on Flight Test Operator to bring early‑stage Zipline aircraft from prototype through production bring‑up. You will execute, iterate, and sign off on flight operations validating airworthiness, avionics/software integration, and field‑deployable procedures for drone delivery at scale.

You’ll work at Zipline’s test site(s) coordinating with engineering, software, safety, manufacturing, and field operations to turn flight software into reliable, release‑ready aircraft.

Qualifications

• FAA Part 107 certification required at time of joining.
• Experience piloting drones or manned aircraft.
• Ability to make safety‑forward go/no‑go decisions with clear documentation.
• Comfort working in failure‑heavy, iterative field environments under time pressure.
• Ability to lift 50+ lb equipment and work outdoors for multi‑hour test windows.

Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end daily flight test campaign execution as Remote Pilot in Command.
• Validate functionality through ground and flight test procedures.
• Troubleshoot and repair software and hardware on‑site to return aircraft to flight.
• Summarize test results with qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Escalate flight performance anomalies to engineering and safety.
• Enforce site safety, run briefings/debriefs, refine SOPs to reduce failures.
• Work onsite at Zipline test sites; occasional regional travel may be required.

Skills

FAA Part 107

Drone piloting

Go/no-go decisions

Field diagnostics

Test campaign ownership

Linux basics

Job description

Zipline is hiring a hands‑on Flight Test Operator to bring early‑stage Zipline aircraft from prototype through production bring‑up. You will execute, iterate, and sign off on flight operations validating airworthiness, avionics/software integration, and field‑deployable procedures for drone delivery at scale.

You’ll work at Zipline’s test site(s) coordinating with engineering, software, safety, manufacturing, and field operations to turn flight software into reliable, release‑ready aircraft.