Flight Test Electrical Lead

Zipline•Esparto, CA

8d•$120,000 - $135,000

About The Position

Zipline is seeking a hands-on Flight Test Electrical Lead to own electrical systems and projects across its U.S. test sites. This is a working lead role, with approximately 80–90% of the electrical installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair work performed directly by the lead. The role also includes planning, organizing, prioritizing, and executing electrical work across multiple facilities. The lead owns each site's electrical systems end to end, from assessing needs and developing project plans through procurement, installation, commissioning, documentation, and ongoing maintenance. For larger or specialized projects, the lead coordinates outside electrical contractors and ensures their work meets safety, quality, schedule, operational, and code requirements. The role partners with electrical designers and engineers, site leaders, facilities partners, and safety teams while remaining accountable for driving work forward and delivering safe, reliable infrastructure. Regular travel between Zipline test facilities throughout the United States is required, with frequency varying according to project needs. The role involves hands-on work indoors and outdoors, including at remote sites and in varying weather conditions.

Requirements

Active California C-10 Electrical Contractor license in good standing.
Current California electrician certification or license applicable to the work being performed.
Significant hands-on experience in commercial or industrial electrical installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Demonstrated experience independently planning and executing electrical projects from scope development through completion.
Strong working knowledge of the National Electrical Code and applicable electrical safety requirements.
Experience reading, interpreting, and working from electrical drawings, one-line diagrams, specifications, and panel schedules.
Ability to estimate labor, materials, equipment, cost, and schedule requirements.
Experience coordinating and overseeing outside electrical contractors.
Strong troubleshooting skills and sound decision-making in dynamic field environments.
High degree of ownership, organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.
Ability to communicate plans, risks, priorities, and technical issues clearly to technical and nontechnical partners.
Ability and willingness to travel regularly between facilities across the United States.
Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate company vehicles as required.
Ability to perform hands-on electrical work indoors and outdoors; work from ladders, lifts, rooftops, and other elevated areas when properly trained and equipped; and lift, carry, position, and operate tools, materials, and electrical equipment.
Ability to work at remote test sites and in varying weather and environmental conditions.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting test facilities, aviation operations, manufacturing, research and development, or other high-tempo technical environments.
Experience with new-site construction, temporary power, service upgrades, power distribution, backup power, lighting, controls, and equipment installations.
Experience working at geographically dispersed or remote facilities.
Experience developing preventive-maintenance programs and electrical-system documentation.
Experience coordinating with utilities, inspectors, permitting authorities, engineers, and general contractors.
Familiarity with low-voltage systems, generators, energy storage, renewable-energy systems, or electric-vehicle infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Personally perform most electrical installations, modifications, repairs, maintenance, and troubleshooting across test sites.
Install and maintain electrical infrastructure for test operations, facilities, equipment, temporary structures, and new site development.
Diagnose electrical problems, identify root causes, and implement safe, durable repairs.
Lead projects from site assessment through planning, installation, testing, commissioning, and closeout.
Develop project scopes, execution plans, material lists, cost estimates, schedules, and identify required tools, equipment, permits, and external support.
Prioritize electrical work across multiple facilities according to safety, operational impact, urgency, resources, and company objectives.
Identify electrical risks, capacity constraints, aging infrastructure, and future facility needs; maintain visibility into project status, dependencies, risks, and timelines.
Own the condition, reliability, safety, and maintainability of electrical systems across Flight Test sites.
Establish site-appropriate preventive-maintenance and inspection practices, maintain accurate drawings and records, and create repeatable installation standards.
Determine whether work should be done internally or by outside contractors; define scopes, support contractor selection, coordinate access, and oversee execution.
Review contractor proposals and completed work, and hold contractors accountable for safety, quality, schedule, documentation, and code compliance.
Partner with electrical engineers and designers to review plans, resolve technical questions, and make practical field decisions.
Coordinate with site leaders to minimize operational disruption and communicate project status, risks, tradeoffs, and resource needs to stakeholders.
Perform and oversee electrical work in accordance with applicable codes, regulations, permits, company standards, and safe-work practices.
Identify unsafe conditions and take prompt action; support permitting, inspections, lockout/tagout, energized-work controls, and other required safety processes.
Ensure installations are inspected, labeled, documented, and commissioned before service, and determine when engineering, contractor, utility, or authority involvement is needed.
Travel regularly between U.S. facilities and, when required, remain at a test facility for multiple consecutive days.