Senior Flight Test Operator, Half Moon Bay

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. Through our technology that includes 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 Staff Flight Test Operator is a technical leader responsible for planning, prioritization, execution, and continuous improvement of Zipline’s large scale, flight testing operation. This role blends deep systems-level engineering thinking with hands-on flight operations expertise to ensure we test the right things, at the right time, with precision, velocity, and uncompromising safety.

You will own the integration and execution of complex test campaigns, resolve technical blockers, raise and mitigate risks, and translate flight test results into actionable engineering insights. You will also lead multi-week validation campaigns, manage resources and infrastructure bring-up, and pioneer new tools and processes that expand the throughput and quality of Zipline’s flight testing capability.

This role requires someone who thrives at the intersection of engineering, operations, and leadership, jumping into detailed data analysis or debugging, and guiding teams through ambiguous, high-stakes challenges.

What You'll Do

• Own and execute flight test operations across multiple aircraft platforms, including prototype and early production systems
• Perform preflight validation, instrumentation setup, flight execution, monitoring, and post-flight data collection
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues across electromechanical systems, flight controls, and software, escalating when needed
• Partner with engineering teams to align on test objectives, priorities, and success criteria
• Analyze flight data to identify anomalies, validate performance, and recommend next steps
• Generate clear and structured test documentation and reports to support engineering decision-making
• Support execution of larger validation and certification campaigns, including defined test protocols and procedures
• Contribute to the development and improvement of operational processes, checklists, and tooling
• Help coordinate test activities on shift, ensuring safe and efficient execution
• Mentor and support junior flight test operators, reinforcing best practices and SOP compliance
• Maintain safety standards in a fast-paced test environment, proactively identifying and mitigating risk
• Travel to support flight operations at different test sites as needed
• Flexibility to work an array of schedule structures including, but not limited to: day, swing, nights, weekends, rotationa

What You'll Bring

Must have technical skills

• FAA Part 107 Certification or other piloting experience
• Strong aeronautical decision making skills and familiarity with flight controller functions
• + years of experience in aviation, robotics, or autonomous systems testing
• Experience executing flight tests and troubleshooting electromechanical systems
• Strong communication, documentation, and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a dynamic environment
• Hands-on experience working with hardware systems in the field
• Ability to make timely, sound decisions during flight operations

Nice to have technical skills

• Experience working in a Linux command line environment
• Experience with rapid prototyping tools (3D printing, laser cutting, etc.)
• Experience supporting structured test campaigns or certification efforts

What Else You Need to Know