On-Site Maintenance Tool Engineer Intern (Esparto, CA)

Zipline; Esparto (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Housing stipend

Overtime pay

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a hands-on Engineering Intern for the Service Tooling & Processes Team at our Esparto, CA facility. You will design, validate, and field new tools to support maintenance of our drone hardware and ground systems, working closely with maintenance and hardware engineers to deliver practical, production-ready solutions.

The role offers an immersive, in-person experience at a high-volume test facility, with rapid iteration cycles and immediate impact on field operations.

Qualifications

• Strong grasp of mechanical design fundamentals and material properties.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as NX, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360.
• Hands-on prototyping experience (3D printing, fabrication, welding, soldering, or assembly).
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate cross-functionally.
• Obsessive customer focus and understanding of real-world performance of designs.
• Ability to work on-site at the Esparto, CA test facility daily.

Responsibilities

• Work with Hardware and Operations teams to understand pain points and process requirements.
• Design and prototype tools for drone and ground system maintenance; produce first units.
• Gather operational feedback and iterate quickly on designs.
• Collaborate with Operations leadership on trade studies for production-ready forms.
• Create usage documentation and lead training as designs roll out.

Skills

Mechanical design fundamentals

CAD software (NX/SolidWorks/Fusion)

Prototyping experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Customer-focused design

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

3D printing

Job description

Zipline is seeking a hands-on Engineering Intern for the Service Tooling & Processes Team at our Esparto, CA facility. You will design, validate, and field new tools to support maintenance of our drone hardware and ground systems, working closely with maintenance and hardware engineers to deliver practical, production-ready solutions.

The role offers an immersive, in-person experience at a high-volume test facility, with rapid iteration cycles and immediate impact on field operations.