Hardware Test Automation Intern (Summer 2026)

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

1d•$38 - $42•Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges by building the first instant logistics system that serves all humans equally. Leveraging expertise in robotics and autonomy, Zipline designs, builds, and operates a fleet of cutting edge, autonomous delivery drones. We serve tens of millions of people around the world. Joining Zipline’s Emerging Talent program as an intern is an opportunity to contribute to our promise of building a system that provides equitable access to critical healthcare supplies for millions of people. We believe that internships are more than just opportunities to learn by watching or doing low level tasks. We expect our interns to take on meaningful work that actively contributes to moving Zipline’s mission forward, while learning real-world skills that will serve them in their careers for the long term. Join us, and build the future of logistics with the best humans around! About the Hardware Test Team The Hardware Test Team plays a critical role in ensuring the performance, reliability, and safety of the systems that power Zipline’s life-saving delivery drones. As a cross-functional group supporting multiple hardware engineering domains, we design and execute rigorous testing strategies across avionics, power systems, mechanical assemblies, sensors, and other mission-critical components. Operating at the intersection of hardware and software, we validate integrated systems under real-world and simulated conditions to ensure our products perform flawlessly in some of the most demanding environments on Earth. Our work directly advances Zipline’s mission to provide fast, dependable access to essential medical and commercial supplies around the globe. The Role In developing a test asset, you will gain a deep understanding of the system you are working on—whether that includes embedded electronics, avionics, sensing systems, power distribution, mechanical actuation, or full subsystem integrations. Building these test assets often involves designing and constructing mechatronic systems as well as developing complex automation scripts that coordinate sensors, actuators, and instrumentation with operator safety in mind. You will own your test asset end-to-end: from early concept and system definition, to implementation, data collection, analysis, and ultimately the recommendations that inform engineering decisions. If you are excited by hands-on engineering, solving ambiguous technical problems, and building tools that raise the bar for hardware quality, this role is for you.

Requirements

Experience programming in Python, with foundational knowledge of embedded C
Experience developing software that interfaces directly with hardware and instrumentation
Ability to interpret datasheets and write basic drivers for new components
Understanding of fundamental electrical and/or mechanical engineering principles
Experience working with common electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, etc.)

Responsibilities

Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to define clear component and tester requirements
Architect and implement software to validate the design and assembly of components ranging from circuit boards to large mechanical or electromechanical assemblies
Develop automation-centric software to streamline testing, data collection, analysis, and reporting
Gain deep expertise in the components or systems under test to understand their expected behavior under a variety of operating conditions
Own a test asset through its entire lifecycle—from planning and implementation to system validation, troubleshooting, and analysis of results