Senior Software Engineer - Maps Platform

Zipline; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 160,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity compensation

Bonuses (discretionary)

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Zipline is building the mapping infrastructure that powers every Zipline flight. You will own the data pipelines, geospatial datasets, and production services that enable fast, accurate routing and map-driven features used across autonomy and operations.

Expect a hands-on role shaping data quality, system design, and AI-enabled tooling. The role combines backend, data, and platform engineering with end-to-end ownership, working with Go, Python, PostGIS, Kafka, and AWS.

Qualifications

• Experience building and operating large-scale data pipelines.
• Track record shipping reliable services and APIs.
• Ownership mindset with end-to-end project delivery.
• Experience with large datasets and reliable data processing.
• Familiarity with data modeling, data quality, and production validation.
• Ability to coordinate across cross-functional teams.
• Strong backend or distributed systems fundamentals.
• Experience with geospatial systems, mapping technologies, or GIS tooling is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the mapping infrastructure powering Zipline flights.
• Design pipelines that process and serve large-scale geospatial datasets.
• Build end-to-end production services for routing, mapping and analytics.
• Collaborate with autonomy, routing, simulation and operations teams.
• Leverage AI-assisted engineering to improve velocity while upholding system rigor.

Skills

Data pipelines

APIs

Ownership mindset

Large datasets

Data modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Backend / distributed systems

Geospatial / GIS tooling

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.

Why this role matters

We’re building the mapping infrastructure that powers every Zipline flight. Maps Platform engineers build the backbone that serves geographic data, features, and map-driven services to Zipline’s products and operators.

You’ll make map data fast, accurate, and reliable for both human workflows (map editors, operator dashboards, regulatory UIs) and autonomous systems (routing, onboard systems). This role mixes backend, data, platform engineering and user interface design with pragmatic production ownership.

Why this role is unique

• Own the foundation of flight intelligence. The systems you build directly power how aircraft understand and navigate the world.
• Massive data challenges. You’ll design pipelines that process and serve large-scale geospatial datasets with strict requirements for accuracy, consistency, and availability.
• End-to-end ownership. From raw data ingestion to production services, you’ll build systems that are critical to real-world operations.
• Cross-functional impact. Your work will be used across autonomy, routing, simulation, and operations.
• AI-accelerated engineering. We leverage modern AI and agentic workflows to increase engineering velocity while maintaining strong system rigor.

What you’ll bring

We care far more about how you approach problems than experience with any specific technology. Strong candidates typically have:

• Experience building and operating large-scale data pipelines
• A track record shipping reliable services and APIs
• Extreme ownership mindset with the ability to drive projects end-to-end
• Experience working with large datasets and designing reliable data processing logic
• Familiarity with data modeling, data quality, and validation in production systems
• Comfort working with cross-functional teams and integrating systems across domains
• Strong backend or distributed systems engineering fundamentals

Experience with geospatial systems, mapping technologies, or GIS tooling is a plus, but not required.

Our current stack includes technologies such as Go, Python, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, Kafka, and AWS, but we value engineers who can learn quickly and focus on solving the right problems.

We also lean heavily into AI-assisted engineering workflows and expect engineers to use modern tools to amplify productivity while maintaining high standards for system design and data quality.

What Else You Need To Know

The starting cash ranges for this role is $160,000 - $250,000. 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 three levels based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and demonstrated scope:

• Software Engineer II: $160,000 - $190,000
• Senior Software Engineer: $190,000 - $220,000
• Staff Software Engineer: $220,000 - $250,000

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.

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.