Lead Build Engineer Electromechanical UAV Hardware

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a Build Development Lead to bridge engineering and scalable manufacturing for complex electromechanical hardware. You will own daily build direction and readiness so evolving designs become safe, repeatable hardware.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role on the build floor. You will lead technicians, resolve blockers, and provide Engineering and Manufacturing feedback that improves recovery quality and manufacturing readiness.

Qualifications

• 6+ years hands-on experience building complex electromechanical hardware.
• Proven ability to lead technicians on a build floor.
• Strong troubleshooting across mechanical, electrical, and test domains.
• Experience interpreting drawings, BOMs, and work instructions.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop Build Development Technicians through hands-on mentorship and daily execution support.
• Set daily priorities across engineering builds, validation activities, production needs, and critical hardware recoveries.
• Own build readiness by confirming hardware, tooling, documentation, staffing, and configuration are in place.
• Build, integrate, validate, rework, recover, and troubleshoot complex electromechanical hardware across its lifecycle.
• Make day-to-day execution decisions and elevate issues needing cross-functional resolution.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Validation, Production, Supply Chain, and Field Operations to remove blockers.
• Standardize build methods, tooling, work instructions, and documentation to improve repeatability.

Skills

Leadership

Hardware development

Troubleshooting

Mechanical assembly

Electrical systems

Documentation & drawings

Job description

Zipline is seeking a Build Development Lead to bridge engineering and scalable manufacturing for complex electromechanical hardware. You will own daily build direction and readiness so evolving designs become safe, repeatable hardware.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role on the build floor. You will lead technicians, resolve blockers, and provide Engineering and Manufacturing feedback that improves recovery quality and manufacturing readiness.