Mechanical Test Engineering Lead

Zipline International Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline International Inc. in South San Francisco, CA, is seeking a Mechanical Test Engineering Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team testing and validating safety-critical hardware.

The role focuses on Platform 2 as Zipline scales to hundreds of thousands of drones worldwide. You will guide test strategy, planning, and execution across development and full validation, ensuring robust, reliable hardware for field deployment.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of engineering teams
• Experience in hardware test design and validation for safety-critical systems
• Strong root-cause analysis and debugging skills
• Familiarity with design reviews, prototyping, and test equipment maintenance
• Ability to mentor and hire world-class engineers

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of test engineers and specialists across development and validation testing.
• Develop strategies and test campaigns to evaluate function, reliability and safety of critical hardware.
• Root cause failures with design engineers and implement elegant solutions.
• Set a vision for the team's future and implement strategies to achieve outcomes.
• Hire and grow a high-performing team of engineers.

Job description

Zipline International Inc. in South San Francisco, CA, is seeking a Mechanical Test Engineering Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team testing and validating safety-critical hardware.

The role focuses on Platform 2 as Zipline scales to hundreds of thousands of drones worldwide. You will guide test strategy, planning, and execution across development and full validation, ensuring robust, reliable hardware for field deployment.