Zipline — South San Francisco, CA
Zipline is the world's largest autonomous drone delivery service operating on four continents. This role is a hands-on Flight Test Operator responsible for executing flight validation campaigns for early-stage aircraft, from prototype through production, ensuring airworthiness and field-deployable procedures.
What You'll Do
Execute daily flight test campaigns as Remote Pilot in Command, including mission profiles, feature testing, and fault injection testingValidate functionality through repeatable ground and flight test proceduresTroubleshoot and repair software and hardware issues on-site to return aircraft to flight operationsAnalyze and document test results with qualitative and quantitative performance analysis against expected outcomesEscalate flight performance anomalies to engineering and safety teams, driving resolution discussionsEnforce and improve site safety by managing prototype flight risks, conducting briefings and debriefs, and refining standard operating proceduresWhat You Need
FAA Part 107 certification (required at time of joining)Experience piloting drones or manned aircraftDemonstrated aeronautical decision-making and accountability with experience owning go/no-go decisions and escalating safety incidentsOperational intensity and ability to work in failure-heavy, iterative field environments with rapid diagnostics and repairs under time pressureAbility to lift and move 50+ lb equipment and work outdoors for multi-hour test windowsProven ability to own test campaigns end-to-end, make safety-forward decisions, document results clearly, and coordinate across engineering, safety, and manufacturingNice to Have
Linux command-line comfortRapid-prototyping skills such as 3D printing and basic machiningExperience with automated flight systems