Structural Engineer

Speedrun Talent Network; South San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a Structural Engineer to join the Ground System Deployments team in South San Francisco, focusing on the design, analysis and deployment of drone ground infrastructure. You will work across mechanical, civil, electrical teams and interact with AHJs to ensure safe, scalable sites.

The role covers code-compliant design of towers and dropboxes, transfer of design documentation, and coordinating permitting, approvals and site construction. Domestic travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil/Structural Engineering.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• 3–8+ years of structural design experience.
• Strong knowledge of IBC, ASCE 7, AISC and related codes.
• Experience with tower or vertical structures.
• Experience supporting permitting and approvals.
• Ability to work on non-standard or first-of-kind designs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication with cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, iterative environment.
• Willing to travel domestically to project sites.

Responsibilities

• Be a key stakeholder for structural analysis and design of charging towers and dropboxes.
• Develop designs that are code-compliant, constructible, and scalable.
• Produce and review structural calculations and drawings.
• Support permitting and regulatory approvals with AHJs.
• Interface with authorities having jurisdiction, customers and partners.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, real estate and construction teams.
• Provide input on constructability and installation approaches.
• Maintain standard designs and design documentation.
• Advise on permitting, codes and related certifications.
• Engage with cities and inspectors to secure project approvals.
• Understand customer needs and refine changes with internal teams.
• Source relationships with jurisdictions, utilities, contractors, and suppliers.
• Assess risks and select vendors for reliable services.
• Travel domestically to project sites as needed.

Skills

PE licensed

Structural design

IBC/ASCE 7/AISC knowledge

Tower structures

Permitting support

Non-standard designs

Analytical skills

Cross-functional communication

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Civil/Structural Engineering

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

The Ground System Deployments team is looking for an innovative, collaborative and self-driven Structural Engineer to join the team to ensure the successful deployment of Zipline's Ground Systems in all possible applications and configurations. This role is well suited to structural engineers looking to apply their experience designing novel and innovative sites, foundations and structures to advance and accelerate the new and growing industry of autonomous drone delivery ground systems. With broad scope to influence the design of current and next generation systems this role will join a stellar team responsible for the site level designs, layouts, civil designs, structural and foundation designs and implementation. Interacting with various mechanical, civil, structural and electrical engineering stakeholders across the organization this role will ensure the overall system and its site design work hand in hand to ensure the successful deployment of Zipline's Ground Systems within cost and timeline goals. This role has a mandate to drive positive change through the organization - as problems or scenarios occur this individual will be tasked with both 0 to 1 problem/project responsibility and also working with the broad engineering and deployments organization to implement foundation changes to product and process as needed.

What You'll Do

• Be a key stakeholder responsible for structural analysis and design of:
  • Charging towers
  • Dropboxes and related structures
• Develop designs that are:
  • Code-compliant
  • Constructible
  • Cost-effective and scalable
• Produce and review:
  • Structural calculations
  • Drawings and design documentation
• Support permitting and regulatory approvals
• Interface with:
  • Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)
  • Customers and external partners
• Collaborate with:
  • Mechanical and electrical engineering teams
  • Real Estate and Construction teams
• Provide input on constructability and installation approaches
• Improve and maintain standard designs and design documentation
• Advise on permitting, codes and and other certification efforts relevant to the projects and structures.
• Engage and interact with cities and relevant inspectors or relevant external parties to ensure timely project approvals and deployment.
• Understand our internal and external customer’s business and needs and work with our internal engineering and business teams to refine and roadmap necessary changes to ensure the successful deployment of the Ground Systems infrastructure.
• Source and develop relationships with outside organizations (local jurisdiction, utilities, contractors, OEM and material suppliers etc).
• Evaluate all options and a lean budget, select best vendors to ensure reliable and quality services and products.
• Understand and mitigate the preconstruction, construction, operational and sustaining risks associated with each project.
• Interact directly with internal and external partners and stakeholders as needed.
• Domestic travel to project sites expected on an ad-hoc basis.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelors and/or Masters degree in Civil/Structural Engineering
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Civil Engineering and/or Structural Engineering
• 3-8+ years of experience in structural design
• Strong knowledge of:
  • IBC, ASCE 7, AISC (and related codes/standards)
  • Steel and/or concrete design
• Experience with tower, vertical structure, or similar systems preferred
• Experience supporting permitting and approvals
• Ability to work on non-standard or first-of-kind designs
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to communicate clearly with cross-functional teams
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, iterative environment

• Strong candidates should have excellent communications skills to:
  • Drive internal alignment of requirements for projects based on business needs.
  • Provide leadership team with updates on scope, schedule and budgets.
  • Drive external parties for the implementation of real estate projects.
• The individual will be based at Zipline's headquarters in South San Francisco and will be expected to travel intermittently to implement Zipline's expansion in multiple metros across the US and internationally.
• Must be eligible to work in the US

What Else You Need To Know

The starting cash range for this role is $145,000 - $225,000. 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.

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.

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.