Manufacturing Test Engineer: Automation & Yield Lead

Candidate; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is hiring a Manufacturing Test Engineer in South San Francisco to own electrical, functional, and automated test systems for aircraft, docks, delivery pods, and subassemblies. You will lead end-to-end test-system delivery on high-throughput production lines with safety, traceability, and rapid product iterations in mind.

You will collaborate with Design, Firmware, Quality, and Operations, prioritizing yield improvements and on-time deployment, with regular factory-floor presence and

Qualifications

• 2+ years building production test systems or end-of-line testers.
• BS in Electrical, Mechatronics, Mechanical, or Computer Engineering (or equivalent).
• Hands-on with instrumentation, signal measurement, power delivery, and PCBA-level debug.
• Strong test-automation experience; Python preferred; LabVIEW/TestStand experience.
• Proficiency with CAN, UART, Ethernet, I2C, SPI, and USB interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Own production testers and calibration stations from requirements to release.
• Define test coverage, pass/fail limits, and release criteria with Design, Firmware, Quality, and Operations.
• Integrate harnesses, DAQ, sensors, actuators, power systems, safety interlocks, and fixtures to meet throughput and cycle-time needs.
• Build automation and data pipelines for reproducible execution, data logging, MES/MFG integration, and dashboards.
• Troubleshoot production escalations on the factory floor under time pressure, distinguishing defects from tester problems.
• Improve first-pass yield, false-fail rate, tester uptime, utilization, and per-unit cycle time; report progress monthly.

Skills

Test automation

Electrical debug

Cross-functional teamwork

QC metrics

Embedded interfaces

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

TestStand

DAQ systems

Oscilloscopes

CAN/UART/Ethernet

Job description

Zipline is hiring a Manufacturing Test Engineer in South San Francisco to own electrical, functional, and automated test systems for aircraft, docks, delivery pods, and subassemblies. You will lead end-to-end test-system delivery on high-throughput production lines with safety, traceability, and rapid product iterations in mind.

You will collaborate with Design, Firmware, Quality, and Operations, prioritizing yield improvements and on-time deployment, with regular factory-floor presence and