Visual Observer (Contract Opportunity)

Zipline; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline seeks a Visual Observer based in Austin to support safe, repeatable autonomous aircraft operations delivering medical supplies. You will detect hazards, report observations, and ensure compliance across outdoor field sites with RPIC coordination.

The role requires working outdoors, shift flexibility, and strong safety focus to protect public and crew during launches, flights, and deliveries.

Qualifications

• Must be 18+ and able to pass background and pre-employment drug/alcohol screening and ongoing random testing.
• Available for assigned day, night, and weekend shifts at the Dallas site; both part-time and full-time schedules considered. Contract length ~3–6 months as-stated by the hiring manager.
• Comfortable working outdoors for extended periods in varying weather (heat, rain, wind); able to stand and visually scan for entire shifts and perform repetitive, safety-critical tasks.
• Clear, calm radio and face-to-face communication under operational stress; English fluency for safety-critical exchanges.
• Ability to enforce safety rules with the public and crew and to make decisive hazard calls during operations.
• Preferred: FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or prior UAS/aviation experience; candidates without Part 107 will complete Zipline’s training and competency checks as required for the role.

Responsibilities

• Own visual observation for assigned flights from pre-launch through handoff/recovery and until the aircraft is secured; maintain continuous, unaided line-of-sight of the aircraft and surrounding airspace.
• Detect and call out non-cooperative air traffic, people, vehicles, wildlife, and surface hazards; initiate escalation and immediate mitigations per crew procedures and stop operations when required.
• Monitor and report hazardous weather, smoke, or environmental conditions that affect launch/recovery; provide concise go/no-go inputs to the RPIC and site lead.
• Conduct and record pre-operational site checks per checklist; verify clear launch/recovery corridors, markings, and safety equipment before each flight.
• Communicate real-time observations and coordinate with RPIC, site lead, and crew during briefings and dynamic events using standard radio/hand signals and logs.
• Complete incident reports, flight logs, and post-flight safety documentation accurately and on time; support safety reviews and corrective actions to reduce repeat occurrences.
• Execute routine site setup and teardown tasks during shifts, including deployment of visual markers and safety barriers, and maintain site readiness for operations.
• Maintain operational readiness for day, night, and weekend shifts; participate in recurrent training, competency checks, and any required regulatory training.

Skills

English fluency

Strong radio communication

Hazard detection

Education

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

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

You will join Zipline’s Flight Operations team as a Visual Observer based in Austin, supporting safe, repeatable autonomous aircraft operations that deliver medical supplies. This role exists to ensure public and crew safety during launches, flights, and deliveries by detecting, reporting, and mitigating airborne and ground hazards. You’ll operate at outdoor field sites supporting scheduled commercial operations and test flights, working on a crew with the RPIC (Fleet Command) and other site operators. Your work directly enables Zipline’s mission to provide reliable, lifesaving logistics under real‑world weather, traffic, and community conditions and keeps aircraft operations legally compliant and publicly trusted.

What You’ll Do

• Own visual observation for assigned flights from pre‑launch through handoff/recovery and until the aircraft is secured; maintain continuous, unaided line‑of‑sight of the aircraft and surrounding airspace.
• Detect and call out non‑cooperative air traffic, people, vehicles, wildlife, and surface hazards; initiate escalation and immediate mitigations per crew procedures and stop operations when required.
• Monitor and report hazardous weather, smoke, or environmental conditions that affect launch/recovery; provide concise go/no‑go inputs to the RPIC and site lead.
• Conduct and record pre‑operational site checks per checklist; verify clear launch/recovery corridors, markings, and safety equipment before each flight.
• Communicate real‑time observations and coordinate with RPIC, site lead, and crew during briefings and dynamic events using standard radio/hand signals and logs.
• Complete incident reports, flight logs, and post‑flight safety documentation accurately and on time; support safety reviews and corrective actions to reduce repeat occurrences.
• Execute routine site setup and teardown tasks during shifts, including deployment of visual markers and safety barriers, and maintain site readiness for operations.
• Maintain operational readiness for day, night, and weekend shifts; participate in recurrent training, competency checks, and any required regulatory training.

What You’ll Bring

• Required: Must be 18+ and able to pass background and pre‑employment drug/alcohol screening and ongoing random testing.
• Required: Availability for assigned day, night, and weekend shifts at the Dallas site; both part‑time and full‑time schedules considered. Contract length ~3‑6 months as‑stated by the hiring manager.
• Required: Comfortable working outdoors for extended periods in varying weather (heat, rain, wind); able to stand and visually scan for entire shifts and perform repetitive, safety‑critical tasks.
• Required: Clear, calm radio and face‑to‑face communication under operational stress; English fluency for safety‑critical exchanges.
• Required: Ability to enforce safety rules with the public and crew and to make decisive hazard calls during operations.
• Preferred: FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or prior UAS/aviation experience; candidates without Part 107 will complete Zipline’s training and competency checks as required for the role.
• Working constraints: On‑site work at Austin launch/recovery sites with occasional schedule changes due to weather or flight demand; reliable local transport to assigned sites during shift windows.
• Measurable success outcomes: timely and accurate hazard detection and reporting, zero preventable airspace incursions during assigned shifts, 100% completion of required checklists and incident documentation, and consistent shift attendance and readiness.

What Else You Need To Know

Zipline is an equal‑opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.