Engineering Technician, Powertrain

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

1d•$42 - $52

About The Position

As an Engineering Technician on the Powertrain team, you will build, operate, troubleshoot, and improve the hardware and test systems used to develop, validate, and support aircraft electrical power and propulsion systems. The team owns systems that store, distribute, convert, and use electrical energy throughout the aircraft, including battery cells and packs, power-distribution hardware, busbars, connectors, power electronics, electric motors, motor controllers, propellers, and integrated propulsion assemblies. You will work closely with design and test engineers to create fixtures, instrumentation, automated test systems, and processes for development, qualification, manufacturing validation, and field support. With experience, the role can expand from building and executing individual tests to owning complex test systems and helping define validation practices across the team.

Requirements

Experience building, operating, or troubleshooting test equipment, production equipment, prototypes, or laboratory infrastructure for complex electromechanical products.
Hands-on experience with batteries, power electronics, electric motors, motor controllers, propellers, rotating machinery, or related aerospace or robotics hardware.
Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to build robust fixtures, wiring, instrumentation, and test setups.
Familiarity with measurement systems, sensors, DAQ hardware, electrical power systems, and laboratory safety practices.
Experience reading mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, assembly documentation, and engineering work instructions.
Experience executing environmental, thermal, vibration, fatigue, durability, reliability, or safety testing.
Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to independently diagnose and resolve mechanical and electrical issues.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to safe laboratory practices.
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, NI TestStand, or similar automation tools.
CAD experience with NX, SolidWorks, or similar tools.

Responsibilities

Build, assemble, modify, and maintain engineering prototypes for batteries, power electronics, electric motors, motor controllers, propellers, and integrated propulsion systems.
Assemble and commission custom test equipment, fixtures, instrumentation, and laboratory infrastructure using engineering drawings, electrical schematics, and work instructions.
Perform wiring, soldering, crimping, cable fabrication, connector assembly, and mechanical assembly to high-quality engineering and manufacturing standards.
Fabricate and modify test fixtures, mechanical components, wiring harnesses, and laboratory tooling using standard shop equipment and rapid prototyping methods.
Support engineering changes, prototype iterations, and hardware bring-up throughout the product development lifecycle.
Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory equipment, including power supplies, battery cyclers, dynamometers, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, DAQ systems, environmental chambers, vibration equipment, and thermal instrumentation.
Execute engineering validation activities, including characterization, environmental, vibration, thermal, fatigue, abuse, electrical performance, and reliability testing.
Collect, document, and organize engineering data while ensuring repeatability, traceability, and measurement quality.
Maintain laboratory organization, calibration records, tooling, consumables, and equipment to support safe, reliable, and efficient engineering operations.
Support commissioning of new laboratory equipment and validation infrastructure.
Troubleshoot prototype hardware, laboratory equipment, and test systems with engineers; identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Improve laboratory workflows, assembly methods, fixture designs, tooling, and test efficiency.
Develop and improve work instructions, assembly documentation, laboratory procedures, and standard operating practices.
Collaborate with Mechanical, Electrical, Test, Manufacturing, Reliability, and Systems Engineers to iterate hardware and improve engineering execution.
With experience, independently own prototype builds, laboratory equipment, validation activities, and portions of engineering programs; mentor teammates and improve laboratory capability and engineering processes.
Help improve laboratory capability, test throughput, documentation, and engineering standards.