Senior Flight Test Engineer

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline, the world’s leading drone-delivery company, is seeking a Senior Flight Test Engineer to lead end-to-end flight test campaigns and integrate automated testing into our program. You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, systems and operations teams to extract rapid insights from hardware, software and operational changes.

You will own system-level flight tests from planning through execution and analysis, translating complex engineering questions into effective test

Qualifications

• 3+ years designing, developing, or validating autonomous robotic systems; UAS experience preferred.
• Strong ability to analyze large test data sets for engineering decisions.
• Experience bringing up and debugging hardware and software systems for automated platforms.
• Systems-level reasoning across structures, aerodynamics, embedded systems, and software.
• Sound judgment about when to move quickly and when to invest in durable infrastructure, process and tooling.
• Experience maintaining and enforcing safety in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for flight testing (2–6 weeks/year) and work outdoors in varying weather.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead end-to-end flight test campaigns validating aircraft performance, delivery and pickup operations, docking systems, and fleet orchestration.
• Define system-level objectives, success criteria, and test plans with mechanical, electrical, software, systems and operations partners.
• Assess hardware and software readiness, evaluate risk posture, and make flight-readiness decisions before test execution.
• Analyze flight data to identify anomalies, trends, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Produce deployment-readiness recommendations and prioritized corrective actions from campaign evidence.
• Build and integrate automated test tooling that improves test precision, insight, capacity and velocity.

Skills

Autonomous robotics

Data analysis

Hardware integration

Systems thinking

Safety compliance

Travel readiness

Flight testing

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. 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 operates autonomous delivery systems that move critical goods through real‑world airspace and logistics environments. As a Senior Flight Test Engineer you will lead comprehensive flight test campaigns and integrate automated testing infrastructure into our flight test program. In this role, you will develop a deep understanding of Zipline’s end‑to‑end logistics system and work closely with cross‑functional partners to generate rapid insights into changes across hardware, software, and operations. Your work will serve as the final line of defense before software or hardware are deployed globally to perform critical real‑world deliveries. You will own system‑level flight test campaigns from planning through execution and analysis. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys translating complex engineering questions into effective test programs and using data and automation to accelerate learning.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and lead end‑to‑end flight test campaigns validating aircraft performance, delivery and pick‑up operations, docking systems, and fleet orchestration.
• Define system‑level objectives, success criteria, and test plans with mechanical, electrical, software, systems and operations partners.
• Assess hardware and software readiness, evaluate risk posture, and make flight‑readiness decisions before test execution.
• Analyze flight data to identify anomalies, trends, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Produce deployment‑readiness recommendations and prioritized corrective actions from campaign evidence.
• Build and integrate automated test tooling that improves test precision, insight, capacity, and velocity.

What You’ll Bring

• 3+ years designing, developing, or validating autonomous robotic systems; UAS experience is preferred.
• Strong ability to analyze and interpret large test data sets for engineering decisions.
• Experience bringing up and debugging hardware and software systems for automated platforms.
• Systems‑level reasoning across structures, aerodynamics, embedded systems, and software.
• Sound judgment about when to move quickly with pragmatic solutions and when to invest in durable infrastructure, process and tooling.
• Experience maintaining and enforcing safety in a fast‑paced, rapidly evolving environment.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for flight testing, approximately 2–6 weeks per year, and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.

What Else You Need To Know

The starting cash range for this role is $120,000-195,000. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash pay for this role will depend on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, working location, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may also include: equity compensation; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; and more. This position may be hired at one of two levels based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and demonstrated scope:

• Flight Test Engineer II: $120,000–$160,000
• Senior Flight Test Engineer: $160,000–$195,000

Level and base salary will be determined through the interview process. Factors may include relevant experience, technical proficiency, expected responsibilities, location, and internal equity.

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!