Launch Manager

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

4d•$140,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Zipline is seeking a Launch Manager to lead the end-to-end deployment of Charging Points and the partner ecosystem that enables the network to scale. This is a senior, highly cross-functional role responsible for driving sites from approval through first delivery and into stable operations. This is not a coordination role. It is a launch ownership role. You will turn complex, cross-functional dependencies into clear plans, drive teams through execution, surface and resolve blockers, make tradeoffs visible, and ensure new capacity comes online safely, quickly, and repeatably. You will operate at two altitudes. First, you will be close to the field, working through the details that determine whether launches actually happen. Second, you will build the systems, playbooks, dashboards, readiness gates, and operating rhythms that allow Zipline to scale launches across metros, partners, and future verticals. The right person is a high-agency operator-builder: calm under pressure, energized by ambiguity, comfortable with frequent travel and hands-on field execution, and excited to build the launch engine for one of the most ambitious autonomy and infrastructure networks in the world. Please note that this role requires frequent travel to cities throughout the U.S. to directly support launches of charging locations and partner sites.

Requirements

6+ years of experience in operations, launch, deployment, infrastructure rollout, logistics, marketplace expansion, or physical network scaling.
A track record of owning complex launches or rollouts where success depended on aligning many teams, resolving real-world blockers, and driving to a go-live date.
High agency and strong follow-through. When something is stuck, you find the owner, clarify the decision, unblock the path, and keep moving.
Strong field judgment. You know how to distinguish a plan that looks good in a meeting from a launch that is actually ready.
The ability to switch altitude quickly: from executive updates and cross-functional tradeoffs to site-level details and readiness checklists.
Comfort operating in ambiguity, time pressure, and changing conditions without losing structure or composure.
Strong communication instincts, especially when creating clarity across teams that have different priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience launching physical infrastructure, logistics networks, or new market operations
Background in aviation, robotics, autonomous systems, logistics, or last-mile delivery
Experience working with city stakeholders, permitting, or construction workflows
MBA or advanced degree in a relevant field

Responsibilities

Build and manage the critical path for each launch, integrating workstreams across infrastructure, permitting, flight operations, maintenance, partner readiness, community engagement, regulatory, and commercial teams.
Act as the launch captain on the ground: identify blockers, drive decisions, escalate tradeoffs, and keep teams aligned on what must happen next.
Build the systems, tools, operating rhythms, and readiness mechanisms that make launches safe, fast, repeatable, and scalable.
Translate cross-functional requirements across infrastructure, permitting, flight operations, maintenance, partner readiness, community engagement, and commercial teams into integrated launch plans.
Serve as the program owner for launch outcomes across assigned markets, driving alignment, accountability, tradeoff decisions, and executive visibility.
Use field results, operational data, and launch retrospectives to improve processes and remove systemic bottlenecks.
Develop scalable playbooks, dashboards, escalation paths, and standard operating models for new metros, partners, and verticals.
Partner closely with field teams to ensure launch systems are practical, adopted, and effective in real operating environments.
Drive the transition from launch to stable operations, ensuring sites are operationally ready, measurable, and set up to scale.