Engineering Test Technician (SMI)

Do you want to change the world? Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges by building, manufacturing and operating the first instant delivery and logistics system that serves all humans equally, wherever they are. From powering Rwanda’s national blood delivery network and Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, to providing on-demand home delivery for Walmart, to enabling healthcare providers to bring care directly to U.S. homes, we are transforming the way things move for businesses, governments and consumers. The technology is complex but the idea is simple: a teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it. Using robotics and autonomy, we are decarbonizing delivery, decreasing road congestion, and reducing fossil fuel consumption and air pollution, while providing equitable access to billions of people and building a more resilient global supply chain.

Join Zipline and help us to make good on our promise to build an equitable and more resilient global supply chain for billions of people.

About You and The Role

The hardware test environment is a multi-disciplinary team responsible for building and maintaining Zipline’s engineering prototype fleet. As a Test Technician, you’ll play a key role in validating new designs, building and maintaining tester equipment, and providing rapid feedback to engineering teams. This is a highly hands-on role that requires a strong background in assembly, troubleshooting, and instrumentation, along with the ability to clearly communicate issues and propose improvements that increase reliability and efficiency.

This role is 100% on-site at our South San Francisco office, 5 days per week.

What You'll Do

• Build and test prototype hardware across a wide range of maturity levels, providing manufacturability and efficiency feedback to engineering teams.
• Assemble, commission, and maintain tester equipment used to validate new hardware.
• Instrument test articles with sensors and data acquisition systems, ensuring accuracy and repeatability of results.
• Collaborate closely with hardware teams to identify issues, troubleshoot failures, and develop solutions.
• Proactively flag risks, inefficiencies, or opportunities for process improvements, and help implement changes.
• Design and prototype fixtures to support builds, tests, and maintenance tasks.
• Manage multiple hardware builds through various stages of mechanical and electrical testing.

What You'll Bring

• Experience with prototyping, assembly, or manufacturing of electro-mechanical systems.
• Hands-on skills in instrumentation (sensors, DAQ, wiring, calibration) and troubleshooting test setups.
• A high level of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and ability to deliver quickly under time pressure.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical challenges and tradeoffs.
• A mix of skills such as soldering, harnessing, machining, technical documentation, or data analysis.

Bonus if you have:

• Familiarity with test automation or scripting (Python, C++, or similar).
• Ability to create or modify simple CAD models.

Other Requirements

• Ability to lift and move up to 30 lbs
• Comfort working with tools, chemicals, and hardware in a lab/manufacturing environment (including respirator use when required)
• Flexibility to support multiple shift schedules or overtime during high‑demand periods

What Else You Need to Know

The starting cash range for this role is $28-38/hr. 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.