Tooling Engineer Intern — Field Maintenance

Zipline; Esparto (CA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Housing stipend

Overtime pay

Paid sick time

Other benefits

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a hardware tooling intern for its Esparto, CA facility to design, validate, and field maintenance tools as the hardware evolves. You will work closely with maintenance, hardware, and tooling engineers to create practical solutions and iterate rapidly in a real-world setting.

The internship is full-time and onsite at Esparto, with Summer 2027 interns from May/June to August/September. Zipline offers a dynamic, hands-on experience with immediate feedback and real impact on

Qualifications

• Familiarity with mechanical design principles (statics, dynamics, materials)
• Experience with CAD tools for design and iteration
• Hands-on prototyping experience (3D printing, fabrication, welding, soldering)
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work on-site at the Esparto, CA test facility every day

Responsibilities

• Work with Hardware and Operations teams to understand needs and constraints
• Design and prototype tools for drone and ground system maintenance
• Produce first units using hand and machine tools
• Gather feedback and iterate designs quickly
• Create usage docs and lead training when tools roll out

Skills

Mechanical design fundamentals

CAD (NX)

CAD (SolidWorks)

CAD (Fusion)

Prototyping

Cross-functional collaboration

On-site work

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

Job description

Zipline is seeking a hardware tooling intern for its Esparto, CA facility to design, validate, and field maintenance tools as the hardware evolves. You will work closely with maintenance, hardware, and tooling engineers to create practical solutions and iterate rapidly in a real-world setting.

The internship is full-time and onsite at Esparto, with Summer 2027 interns from May/June to August/September. Zipline offers a dynamic, hands-on experience with immediate feedback and real impact on