NPI Technical Program Manager - Hardware Launch Leader

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline seeks an NPI Technical Program Manager in South San Francisco, CA to own launch readiness and lifecycle execution for new aircraft and major hardware changes. You will collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Field Service to ensure readiness, release, and scale, with clear metrics and strong leadership.

You will define gate criteria, manage integrated launch plans, track schedules and costs, and drive decisions on retrofit strategies and supplier

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or Aerospace engineering.
• 3+ years of NPI, TPM, hardware development, or product lifecycle work launching complex electromechanical or aerospace systems.
• Demonstrable record owning NPI launches that progressed from prototype to scaled production and field deployment with measurable reliability and ramp outcomes.
• Deep technical judgment across product architecture, validation data interpretation, compatibility/interchangeability decisions, and tradeoffs between schedule, risk, and cost.
• Practical experience with PLM/ECN workflows, ECOs, build reviews, validation test plans, FMEA/root cause, and issue-tracking systems.

Responsibilities

• Single-thread ownership of NPI launch readiness from early builds through phased rollout, production ramp, retrofit campaigns, and post-launch stabilization.
• Define and hold the release-readiness gate criteria and make go/no-go launch recommendations to program leadership.
• Create and maintain integrated launch plans that link engineering milestones, validation test plans, build schedules, and material readiness.
• Track and report schedule, cost, quality, and risk metrics weekly to stakeholders with escalation paths.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering and Field Service to test new designs for improved serviceability and fleet support.

Skills

NPI launches

TPM

Hardware development

Product lifecycle

Supplier management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or Aerospace engineering

Tools

PLM/ECN

FMEA

Reading drawings and BOMs

CAD tools

Job description

Zipline seeks an NPI Technical Program Manager in South San Francisco, CA to own launch readiness and lifecycle execution for new aircraft and major hardware changes. You will collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Field Service to ensure readiness, release, and scale, with clear metrics and strong leadership.

You will define gate criteria, manage integrated launch plans, track schedules and costs, and drive decisions on retrofit strategies and supplier