Hardware Test Intern (Spring 2027)

Zipline • South San Francisco, CA

2h • Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service, aiming to serve all humans equally by providing access to essential goods. They design, build, and operate an autonomous logistics system, making millions of deliveries globally. Zipline's system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and offers fast delivery. The company is looking for practical problem solvers motivated by building impactful systems and scaling the future of logistics. The Hardware Test Team is crucial for ensuring the performance, reliability, and safety of Zipline's delivery drones. This cross-functional team supports various hardware engineering domains, including avionics, power systems, mechanical assemblies, and sensors. They design and execute rigorous testing strategies, validating integrated systems under real-world and simulated conditions to ensure product performance in demanding environments. The role involves developing test assets, gaining deep understanding of systems like embedded electronics, avionics, sensing systems, power distribution, mechanical actuation, or subsystem integrations. This includes designing and constructing mechatronic systems and developing automation scripts. The intern will own their test asset end-to-end, from concept to recommendations that inform engineering decisions. This role is ideal for individuals excited by hands-on engineering, solving ambiguous technical problems, and building tools to enhance hardware quality.

Requirements

• 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.)

Nice To Haves

• Experience programming in Python
• Foundational knowledge of embedded C
• Experience developing software that interfaces directly with hardware and instrumentation

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to define clear component and tester requirements
• Validate the design and assembly of components ranging from circuit boards to large mechanical or electromechanical assemblies
• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed