Software Systems Validation Intern (Spring 2027)

Zipline; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a Software Systems Validation Intern to help evaluate the software powering our autonomous drone delivery system. You will collaborate with engineers across robotics, autonomy, and systems engineering to build tests, tools, metrics, and visualizations that illuminate system performance before flight.

The role offers hands-on exposure to validation across simulation, hardware testing, and data-driven analysis, with opportunities to learn from industry-leading autonomous systems

Qualifications

• Coursework or project experience in robotics, controls, estimation, navigation, perception, or software development.
• Must have completed the second year of undergraduate studies in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• Familiarity with testing, debugging, or validation methodologies (academic or project-based).
• Basic proficiency with a compiled language such as C/C++ or Rust.

Responsibilities

• Help develop and improve validation tools, workflows, and automation.
• Build tests, tools, metrics, and visualizations to understand system performance.
• Support validation pipelines with test infrastructure and data platform teams.
• Analyze results and identify root causes of failures or unexpected behavior.
• Document findings and communicate insights to engineering stakeholders.

Skills

Robotics

Controls

Estimation

Navigation

Perception

Software development

Python

Data analysis

C/C++

Rust

Education

Undergraduate – 2nd year or higher in CS/Software Engineering/Aerospace/Robotics

Tools

Python

SQL

C/C++

Rust

Job description

• Zipline’s Software Systems Validation team ensures that all the software powering our autonomous delivery aircraft works reliably, safely, and as intended in the real world
• We operate at the system level—evaluating how components like navigation, perception, controls, planning, and actuation work together as a cohesive product
• The team partners closely with Embedded Software, Autonomy, Systems Engineering, Test Infrastructure, and Data Platform groups to build validation tools, analyze performance, and identify risks early
• Our work spans simulation, hardware testing, data-driven analysis, and system-level evaluations that support deployments across the globe
• As an intern, you’ll collaborate with engineers across these domains, gaining hands‑on exposure to how industry‑leading autonomous systems are designed, tested, and validated at scale
• As a Software Systems Validation Intern, you will help evaluate the software that enables Zipline’s autonomous drone delivery system
• You’ll contribute to building tests, tools, metrics, and visualizations that help the team understand system performance, identify issues, and ensure reliability before flight
• This role is designed for someone excited to learn how complex robotic systems are validated, who enjoys problem‑solving, and who wants to build real‑world experience working with autonomy software, data analysis, and systems engineering
• Support the design and execution of test scenarios across the autonomous software stack to validate system‑level requirements
• Help develop and improve validation tools, workflows, and automation
• Build visualizations or metrics that highlight performance trends, gaps, or regressions
• Work with test infrastructure and data platform teams to run validation pipelines
• Analyze results and contribute to identifying root causes of failures or unexpected behavior
• Document findings and communicate insights to engineering stakeholders

Coursework or project experience in robotics, controls, estimation, navigation, perception, or software developmentYou must have completed the second year of your undergraduate studies in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. Masters and PhD students are also eligibleFamiliarity with testing, debugging, or validation methodologies (academic or project-based experience counts!)Basic proficiency with a compiled language such as C/C++ or RustExperience with data analysis using Python, SQL, or similarCuriosity, attention to detail, and a desire to learn how autonomous systems are validated in real-world environmentsExposure to hardware, actuators, sensors, and interfacing with softwareExperience with robotics competitions, club projects, or research labsInterest in requirements development, reliability engineering, or statistical validation