Civil Engineer Intern (Fall 2026)

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

3d•$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 essential goods. They design, build, and operate an autonomous logistics system, making millions of deliveries globally. The company is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food. Zipline seeks practical problem solvers motivated by building systems with a meaningful impact and scaling the future of logistics. The Ground Systems Deployment and Construction team is responsible for transforming sites into functional drone charging stations. This cross-functional team includes civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and construction engineers, focused on delivering world-class construction execution that is on-time, on-budget, and uses scalable, cost-optimized designs. As a Civil Engineer Intern on the Ground Systems Deployment team, you will support the rollout of site infrastructure across multiple metros. You will help imagine how the UAS world meets the built environment for Zipline, its customers, and the industry. Your role will involve identifying and designing sites to obtain permits and approvals for new Zipline sites. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Real Estate & Development, Go To Market, Systems Engineering, and Tower Engineering to ensure site layouts meet Zipline's engineering and municipal code requirements. This position is based at Zipline's headquarters in South San Francisco.

Requirements

Completed the second year of undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering. Master's and PhD students are also eligible.
Proficiency in Bluebeam and drafting software such as AutoCAD or Revit.
Excellent communications and problem solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with building codes and developing site plans.

Responsibilities

Perform feasibility and risk assessments for potential sites, including evaluation of environmental constraints, spatial limitations, geotechnical conditions, and constructibility considerations.
Develop and maintain a site plan database, consolidating multiple sites and design alternatives into a structured, accessible format to support cross-disciplinary engineering and planning teams in site evaluation and decision-making.
Coordinate with local jurisdictions and utility providers to obtain as-built drawings, subsurface utility information, and easement documentation critical for site design and permitting.
Evaluate site feasibility for a permit-ready and constructible Zipline site design by coordinating floodplain analysis, local code and permitting requirements, equipment maneuverability, and geotechnical investigations.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams—including electrical, applications, service, and construction—to develop an integrated, permit-ready site plan that addresses all design, operational, and constructibility requirements.