Hardware Test Technician, Avionics

InvestedintheMission; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking an Avionics Technician in California to build, rework, test, and troubleshoot avionics hardware across development and qualification stages. You will partner closely with engineers to translate early designs into reliable hardware, identify issues, and improve assembly and test processes.

This is a hands-on individual-contributor role with no management responsibilities, focused on delivering safe, reliable avionics systems for autonomous delivery platforms.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience testing electromechanical hardware.
• Discipline in documenting build configuration, deviations, test conditions, observations, and failures.
• Ability to communicate clearly with engineers about build problems, risks, and improvements.
• Comfort working independently after objectives and safety boundaries are established.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on experience testing electromechanical hardware.
• Catalog test articles and equipment prior to test execution.
• Interface with test engineering teams to establish test plan execution procedures and timelines.
• Integrate test articles with test systems and execute tests.
• Provide feedback to test engineers to improve test execution bandwidth.
• Perform first line of defense in debugging test failures and isolate issues.
• Thoroughly document test execution and results.
• Communicate test status and findings to engineers.

Skills

Electromechanical testing

Documentation discipline

Clear communication

Independent work

Lab safety

Tools

Test equipment

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

Zipline builds and operates autonomous delivery systems that move critical goods reliably and safely. The Avionics team develops and supports the electronics, sensors, communications hardware, wiring, and electromechanical assemblies used across our aircraft, droids, and ground systems.

As an Avionics Technician, you will build, rework, test, and troubleshoot avionics hardware throughout development and qualification. You will partner closely with engineers to turn early designs into reliable hardware, identify build and design issues, and improve the processes used to assemble and test our systems.

This is a hands-on individual-contributor role without people-management responsibilities.

What You'll Do

• Hands-on experience testing electromechanical hardware.
• Catalog test articles and equipment prior to test execution
• Interface with test engineering teams to establish test plan execution procedures and timelines
• Integrate test articles with test systems and execute tests
• Provide feedback to test engineers to improve test execution bandwidth
• Perform first line of defense in debugging test failures. Isolate issues to either the device under test or test equipment.
• Thoroughly document test execution and results
• Communicate test status and findings to a broad audience of engineers.

What You'll Bring

• Hands-on experience testing electromechanical hardware.
• Discipline in documenting build configuration, deviations, test conditions, observations, and failures.
• Ability to communicate clearly with engineers about build problems, unexpected behavior, risks, and potential improvements.
• Comfort working independently after the objective, procedure, and safety boundaries are established.
• Commitment to maintaining a safe, organized, and effective laboratory and shop environment.
• Physical requirements: able to safely handle tools, test equipment, and hardware and participate in team lifts in accordance with established safety procedures

Traits: practical judgment, electromechanical curiosity, extreme attention to detail, great organization skills.

Nice to Have

• IPC J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620, or equivalent certification.
• Experience with aerospace, robotics, automotive, medical-device, or other high-reliability hardware.
• Experience with RF hardware, antennas, flex circuits, fine-pitch rework, environmental testing, or electronics failure analysis.
• Experience developing work instructions, test fixtures, or repeatable assembly processes.

What Success Looks Like

• Avionics hardware is built and tested safely, correctly, and on schedule.
• Build and test results are documented clearly and remain traceable to the correct hardware configuration.
• Problems are identified early and escalated with useful technical evidence.