Flight Test Operator, Half Moon Bay

Zipline•Half Moon Bay, CA

8d•$37 - $45•Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service, focused on serving all humans equally by ensuring access to essential goods. They design, build, and operate an autonomous logistics system, making deliveries globally. The company operates on four continents, with a delivery every 30 seconds and millions of deliveries completed. Zipline's system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and provides fast delivery. They are looking for problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth, motivated by building systems with a direct, meaningful impact. This role is on the System Test and Integration team, focusing on flight operations of early-stage aircraft, from prototypes to new production builds. This involves manual R/C piloting, ground-based checkouts, and leveraging automated flight systems. The position requires strong aviation knowledge, maker skills, and the ability to coordinate across multiple teams. The goal is to test and learn about the technology to advance systems that customers depend on.

Requirements

FAA Part 107 Certification
Strong aeronautical decision making skills and familiarity with flight controller functions
2+ years experience manually piloting quadcopter drones, professionally or independently
2+ years experience with electromechanical build and troubleshooting projects (including hobbyist drone or maker projects)
Great communication, documentation and organization skills
Experience managing multiple competing projects with limited resources
Initiative to tackle any challenge that comes your way
Interpersonal skills to leverage the strengths of a cross-disciplinary team

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience working in a Linux command line environment
Ability to create rapid prototypes (3d printing, laser cutting, etc.)

Responsibilities

Independently own all aspects of flight operations, looping in engineering support as needed to make quick progress
Troubleshoot, maintain and upgrade electromechanical aircraft systems
Validate aircraft ahead of flight through a series of ground-based tests
Develop and maintain preflight checklists and other operational procedures
Execute flight tests across a variety of aircraft
Manage safety in a bustling test facility to mitigate risk from prototype flights
Document processes from inspections to flight tests
Send out regular status updates to the team on challenges, failures and wins
Align with engineering on the best course of action to achieve flight test goals on time
Lean into the chaos, request support as needed, and dynamically prioritize projects as flight conditions change