Applications Engineer Intern (Fall 2026)

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

7d•$44•Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service, aiming to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine, and essential goods. They design, build, and operate an autonomous logistics system, making deliveries globally. The company is seeking practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth, motivated by building systems with a meaningful impact. The Ground Systems Deployment and Construction team is responsible for developing functional drone charging sites, encompassing civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and construction engineering. The Applications Engineer Intern will be a technical specialist focused on solving application-specific challenges related to infrastructure deployment in diverse environments. This role involves a systems-based approach to identify, validate, and integrate off-the-shelf systems and commercially available products to meet ground infrastructure requirements. Tasks may include architecting remote monitoring camera networks, integrating weather sensing arrays, or designing specialized lifting and service apparatus to ensure Zipline's hardware functions flawlessly in unique applications.

Requirements

Pursuing a degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering or a related field. Must have completed the second year of undergraduate studies. Masters and PhD students are also eligible.
Proficiency in troubleshooting hardware and software systems, data collection and analysis, and collaborating with stakeholders to address engineering challenges.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to simplify complex technical information into clear, repeatable technical instructions.
Demonstrated strong project management skills, including creating timelines, leading meetings, and providing cross-functional updates.
Willingness to travel and work outdoors at test sites for hands-on development and testing.
A problem-solving approach with a drive for continuous improvement in a dynamic, collaborative setting.
Technical curiosity and a passion for user-centric design.
Self-directed with the ability to independently manage tasks.
Eager to learn and grow through building strong relationships with operations and engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience in reading data sheets, layouts, or schematics, or possessing CAD skills.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the development, testing, and deployment of system improvements for the Platform 2 system supporting ground systems, commercial operations, and new deployments.
Develop and implement technical solutions for specialized application needs, including lifting apparatus for maintenance or weather stations for localized flight safety.
Evaluate, select, and manage relationships with external vendors to source high-availability, low-cost commercially available products that fulfill critical system requirements.
Work with the engineering and deployments organization to refine site requirements and transform them into deployable systems that fulfill first-principles needs.
Define the necessary handover materials and processes to move new application solutions into a sustaining operations trajectory.