Engineering Test Technician (SMI)

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

18h•$36 - $50•Onsite

About The Position

The Engineering Test Technician will join Zipline’s multidisciplinary hardware test environment team, which builds and maintains the engineering prototype fleet. The role focuses on validating new designs, building and maintaining test equipment, and providing timely feedback to engineering teams. It is a hands-on position requiring assembly, troubleshooting, instrumentation, and clear communication to improve reliability and efficiency. The position is 100% on-site at Zipline’s South San Francisco office, five days per week. The technician will build and instrument prototype test articles, commission and maintain test equipment, conduct mechanical and electrical tests, troubleshoot hardware and software issues alongside engineering teams, and produce traceable test records supporting validation and hardware release-readiness decisions.

Requirements

At least 2 years of professional experience in a build or test technician role supporting electromechanical hardware is preferred.
Hands-on experience with prototype assembly, manufacturing, troubleshooting, and test setup development.
Working ability with sensors, DAQ systems, wiring, calibration, and test data collection.
Practical capability in several areas such as soldering, harnessing, machine-shop work, technical documentation, or data analysis.
Careful craftsmanship, clear technical communication, and comfort working under time pressure.
Ability to work on-site in South San Francisco five days per week.
Ability to lift and move up to 30 lbs.
Comfort working with tools, chemicals, and hardware in a lab or manufacturing environment, including respirator use when required.
Flexibility to support multiple shift schedules or overtime during high-demand periods.

Nice To Haves

Experience writing code in Python, Java, C++, or a similar language.
Ability to model simple parts in CAD.

Responsibilities

Build prototype test articles at different design maturity stages and provide engineers with feedback on manufacturability, assembly, and efficiency.
Assemble, commission, maintain, and improve test equipment used to validate aircraft hardware.
Instrument test articles with sensors, wiring, calibrated DAQ systems, and data collection systems to produce accurate, repeatable measurements.
Run mechanical and electrical tests on assembled prototypes while coordinating multiple prototype builds.
Troubleshoot hardware and software failures with Electrical and Embedded Software Engineers and implement test equipment reliability improvements.
Deliver complete test records containing approved procedures, calibrated instrumentation, traceable configurations, results, and documented failures to support validation gates and hardware release-readiness decisions.