Senior Engineering Technician (System Test)

Zipline; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a Sr. Test Technician for the System Test team to lead high-autonomy environmental testing across major hardware lines. You will develop capabilities, troubleshoot complex issues, and work with multiple departments to extend test coverage for aircraft and ground systems.

The role emphasizes deep knowledge of Zipline processes, software, and debugging aircraft, with a strong focus on safety, documentation, and rapid problem-solving in an ultra-fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working in an autonomous, fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities in electromechanical systems.
• Experience with aviation maintenance or testing environments is desirable.
• Ability to interpret and debug complex test data and instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Independently operate System Test aircraft and ground-system equipment.
• Manage large-scale test campaigns and multiple priorities across programs.
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and upgrade aircraft and other Zipline hardware assets.
• Troubleshoot and maintain complex test assets (wind tunnels, thermal chambers, ingress rigs).
• Develop and maintain checklists and documentation for system tests and issue triaging.
• Collaborate with engineering to diagnose first-of-their-kind failures.
• Contribute to the design and commissioning of large-scale test capabilities.
• Ensure safe, high-power testing practices and daily optimization.

Skills

Autonomy

Strong communication

Troubleshooting

Electrical skills

Hardware intuition

Documentation/writing

Aviation maintenance

Tools

Linux (command line)

Job description

• System Test is a ultra-fast-pace team responsible for pathfinding new hardware and delivering on environmental and durability campaigns for zipline’s major hardware categories. The direct team is small and lightweight, and interacts with most departments at Zipline
• The System Test team is responsible for designing, building, and running large-scale system test assets like custom wind tunnels, thermal chambers, monsoon rain chambers, and executing the ‘fail fast’ and ‘long-term reliability’ campaigns for all major hardware lines
• As a Sr. Test Technician on the team, you will both work in the development of new environmental test capabilities, and the handling of aircraft and hardware through testing. This involves deep knowledge of Zipline processes and software, and intuitive understanding of debugging aircraft. Strong hardware intuition and electrical skills are essential
• Your role is extremely high autonomy and decision-making, and will interface with all the hardware departments relying on these tests. The team is often the first to find major hardware capabilities and issues, therefore you are often on the front-line for complex problem solving
• Independently operate System Test aircraft and ground-system equipment, and manage large-scale test campaigns:
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and upgrade aircraft and other Zipline hardware assets
• Troubleshoot and maintain complex test assets (wind tunnels, walk-in thermal chambers, ingress rigs)
• Develop and maintain checklists and documentation for system tests especially for issue triaging
• Manage multiple priorities and shepherd aircraft through different programmatic stages
• Troubleshoot real test failures, working with engineering teams to diagnose first-of-their-kind failures
• Help design and commission large-scale test capabilities at Zipline: Multiple full-vehicle wind tunnels, Walk-in thermal chambers, High Temperature High Humidity chambers, Monsoon Ingress Test Cell, Freeze-thaw test chambers, Lightning and other tests
• Complex instrumentation and data acquisition for R&D vehicle tests (strain, acceleration, temperature, acoustics)
• Develop best practices for aircraft maintenance, utilizing Zipline software systems to support System Test, and advocating for features needed for System Test use-cases
• Develop documentation to be able to ‘operationalize’ ground-based system test
• Align with engineering on the best course of action to achieve system test goals, especially for new technical findings
• Be comfortable working with latest software developments and controlling experimental aircraft through command line interfaces

• You have experience with Linux based operating systems (command line experience is a strong plus)
• You thrive in an autonomous, unpredictable, and dynamic environment where you identify what needs to happen and get it done with very little oversight
• You have excellent communication skills, and are a go-getter that can unblock yourself
• You enjoy troubleshooting and are comfortable with electromechanical build and repair projects
• You have great writing skills and don’t let failures or progress go undocumented
• You have experience in commercial aviation or aviation maintenance
• You enjoy working in an ultra-fast paced team, that has you working with latest experimental hardware and software
• You have the vigilance and focus to conduct high-power testing in a safe manner and with a focus on optimizing on a daily basis