Design Manager / Projects Manager

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

8h•Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is building a distributed physical infrastructure network to support autonomous delivery. As the Design Manager / Projects Manager, you will be the technical orchestrator of Zipline's expansion engine, responsible for managing the design lifecycle of ground systems across multiple metros in parallel. This role bridges the gap between site acquisition and construction, ensuring that every site has a flawless technical and tactical roadmap and is executed within time and schedule goals. This is a high-impact role focused on accelerating the deployment of a new industry. You will lead the process for technical permit sets, specifically Civil and Electrical, driving them from initial conceptual layouts through rigorous city reviews to final permit release. The ideal candidate is a "general athlete" capable of communicating effectively with engineers, city planners, contractors, and internal stakeholders to resolve timeline-blocking issues before they impact launch dates.

Requirements

Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience).
Have 6-10+ years of experience in Design Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Infrastructure Delivery, site development, infrastructure projects, or light commercial construction.
Deep understanding of construction drawings and specifications across multiple trades and disciplines.
Basic knowledge of civil engineering design, including grading, drainage, and utilities, and basic knowledge of electrical site design fundamentals, including distribution and NEC codes.
Ability to read, interpret, and review technical drawings and specifications across multiple disciplines.
Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent, high-priority, and "0 to 1" projects through design, permitting, and construction documentation phases without losing critical details.
Proven ability to manage schedules, budgets, and cross-functional dependencies in complex projects.
Experience managing external consultants (engineering firms, architects) and driving deliverable accountability.
Familiarity with permitting processes, zoning requirements, and coordination with local jurisdictions and utilities.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to interface with technical and non-technical teams.
Ability to translate complex technical decisions into clear business value for customers and simple "actionable tasks" for contractors.
Experience working in fast-paced, evolving environments where progress must be driven with imperfect or ambiguous information (Resilience and Grit).
Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., Autodesk products) or a demonstrated willingness to learn independently.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience as an Engineer of Record (EOR) or Architect of Record is a plus.
Experience in industries such as EV charging infrastructure, solar, telecom, or commercial site development is preferred but not required.
Familiarity with project management tools like Procore or Bluebeam is a plus.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end delivery and design process for multiple concurrent site development projects across diverse metros, spanning concept through permit approval and construction drawing issuance.
Drive and accelerate project schedules, ensuring timely progression through key milestones (concept, permit submission, IFC).
Proactively identify and resolve schedule constraints, technical roadblocks, design, constructability, and site constraints early to reduce downstream risk and rework.
Manage project budgets related to design, engineering.
Track risks, dependencies, and critical path items across the portfolio of projects.
Oversee the creation, refinement, and adjustment of Civil and Electrical engineering drawing sets, managing the workflow from Initial Layouts -> Permit Sets -> Construction Release.
Manage and coordinate cross-functional design teams (civil, electrical, structural, architectural) to produce complete, compliant drawing sets.
Standardize design processes, templates, and specifications to improve scalability and consistency across sites.
Drive "design for deployability" by providing feedback loops to hardware engineering teams based on field insights and jurisdictional constraints.
Oversee permitting submissions across multiple sites, metros, and jurisdictions, including coordination with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and utility providers as needed.
Act as the primary internal manager of the submission process, incorporating city comments, and securing approvals to fast-track permit release.
Act as the primary point of contact across internal stakeholders, external consultants, and third-party partners.
Partner with Real Estate, Civil/Electrical Engineers, and Construction Managers to ensure site designs are both compliant and "buildable".
Support contractor bidding and preconstruction activities by ensuring the completeness and clarity of construction documents.
Coordinate the handoff to construction teams, ensuring alignment on scope, design intent, and execution requirements.