Production Technician

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline in South San Francisco, CA is seeking a Production Technician to own assembly and testing of electro-mechanical systems, ensuring quality and on-schedule delivery. This hands-on role requires strong craftsmanship and safety awareness in a fast-growing manufacturing environment.

You will collaborate across lines, document MES transactions, and mentor teammates while following 5S principles and approved MPIs to drive reliable production for Zipline’s global distribution network.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years in prototyping, assembly, or manufacturing of electro-mechanical components.
• Strong reading of manufacturing instructions and mechanical drawings.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Attention to craftsmanship and safety practices (5S).

Responsibilities

• Own production work from start to finish, meet schedule, and document results.
• Assemble mechanical, electrical, and electro‑mechanical systems per MPIs and specs.
• Support prototype builds and validation with rapid feedback.
• Maintain clean, safe workspace following 5S.
• Manage shifting production priorities across lines.
• Complete MES transactions and maintain traceability.

Skills

Mechanical assembly

Electrical understanding

Reading schematics

Quality workmanship

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

MPIs

Manufacturing processes

Job description

About Zipline

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today, Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date, including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products.

About Zipline

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today, Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date, including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products.

Our customers include the world’s largest and most prominent healthcare systems, governments, retailers, restaurants and global businesses who rely on us to save lives, reduce emissions, increase economic opportunity, and provide delivery from point A to point B as fast as possible. The drone is only 15% of what we’ve built to enable seamless, reliable, global operations.

Our system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back. With more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown, Zipline is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food across the globe.

We operate at a global scale and are looking for practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth. Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct, meaningful impact on people’s lives and by scaling the future of logistics. We are seeking people who sculpt from first principles, enjoy facing adversity, and can do the impossible at record breaking speeds.

About You And The Role

Zipline’s Production Team is hiring a Production Technician to own assigned production work from start to finish. This role is responsible for completing mechanical, electrical, and electro‑mechanical assembly and testing while meeting production schedules and maintaining high quality standards. The Production Technician is accountable for ensuring assigned work is completed correctly, documenting progress, identifying and escalating blockers, and partnering with cross‑functional teams to resolve issues. They will execute builds using approved work instructions and manufacturing processes, provide feedback when documentation or processes need improvement, and follow all safety and operating procedures. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on problem solver with strong attention to detail, craftsmanship, and the ability to work safely with electromechanical systems. This role is critical to supporting reliable, scalable production for Zipline’s distribution centers around the world.

Work Schedule

The standard schedule is Monday–Friday; hours may vary based on production demand, build schedules, prototype activity, and business needs. Flexibility to adjust work hours and support occasional overtime may be required, including weekend work or other schedule adjustments.

What You’ll Do

• Own assigned production work from start to finish, ensuring assemblies and tests are completed on schedule, meet quality, safety, and manufacturing standards, pass required inspections, and are properly documented. Identify and elevate blockers, then follow through until the work is complete.
• Assemble mechanical, electrical, and electro‑mechanical systems using approved manufacturing process instructions (MPIs) and specifications, while providing feedback when documentation or processes need clarification or improvement.
• Support production changes, prototype builds, and validation activities by quickly learning new processes, adapting to changing requirements, and providing accurate manufacturing feedback.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment by following 5S principles, properly storing, labeling, and accounting for tools, fixtures, gauges, materials, and equipment, and ensuring assigned tools are safely operated, maintained, and calibrated.
• Manage changing production priorities across multiple lines and manufacturing cells by understanding production demand, build schedules, material availability, configuration changes, deviations, and business needs.
• Complete MES transactions and maintain accurate production records, including work‑order completion, material consumption, serial‑number traceability, issue documentation, product genealogy, and manufacturing data.
• Generate issue tickets, document manufacturing concerns, identify root causes, and participate in corrective actions and continuous improvement efforts through resolution.
• Communicate production status, risks, blockers, material constraints, quality concerns, improvement opportunities and collaboration with Production Leadership and cross‑functional teams.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and assembly issues and perform rework, repairs, and validation activities while understanding product functionality and system interactions.
• Support production readiness by assisting with material movement, line staging, workstation setup, and verifying that tools, fixtures, consumables, documentation, and components are available. Maintain inventory accuracy by identifying shortages, damaged materials, and incorrect part configurations and communicating findings to Production Leadership and Materials teams.
• Train and mentor Production Technicians by developing standardized work, assisting with certification activities, and executing training plans for new assemblies and processes.
• Support the full production flow from assembly through customer shipment by completing production‑support activities such as packaging finished products, moving materials and assemblies, supporting Engineering with testing, and preparing production areas as needed.
• Work may include handling carbon‑fiber composites and industrial‑grade adhesives, along with other manufacturing chemicals. Employees must follow applicable work instructions, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), PPE requirements, ventilation controls, and EHS procedures.

What You’ll Bring

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in prototyping, assembly, or manufacturing of electro‑mechanical components.
• Basic understanding of electrical, pneumatic, and mechanical systems.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Direct experience with reading and understanding manufacturing instructions and mechanical drawings with basic understanding of electrical systems.
• High level of craftsmanship and attention to detail married with the ability to work quickly.
• Quality focused mindset with the ability to manage time across multiple competing tasks and priorities.
• A solid understanding of 5S methodology.

Safety Responsibilities

• Follow all company safety policies, OSHA regulations, environmental health and safety (EHS) requirements, and manufacturing procedures.
• Report unsafe conditions, near misses, equipment concerns, and workplace hazards immediately.
• Actively contribute to a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility by encouraging safe behaviors and addressing potential hazards.

Physical Requirements

• Able to lift 30–50 pounds and stand for extended periods while walking, bending, reaching, and performing repetitive tasks in a manufacturing environment.
• Able to use hands and wrists repetitively for extended periods while performing assembly, testing, and other production activities.
• Able to wear required PPE, including respirators, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and steel‑toed footwear, as required by assigned work.

What Else You Need To Know

The starting cash range for this role is $33/hr . Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws or our own sensibilities. We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!

Voluntary Self‑Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file. As set forth in Zipline ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.