Senior Mechanical Engineer, Long Range Platform

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

10d•$145,000 - $225,000

About The Position

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world’s autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date. Our system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back. With more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown, Zipline is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food across the globe. We operate at a global scale and are looking for practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth. Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct, meaningful impact on people’s lives and by scaling the future of logistics. We are seeking people who sculpt from first principles, enjoy facing adversity, and can do the impossible at record breaking speeds. You are excited by the challenge of designing complex electromechanical systems from early concept to scaled production and real-world deployment. You enjoy owning hardware deeply: defining requirements, developing architectures, building and iterating prototypes, validating performance, and partnering across disciplines to bring robust designs into production. As a Senior Mechanical Engineer on the Long Range Platform, you will lead the design and development of hardware that must perform reliably in demanding field conditions. You will drive engineering decisions across the full product lifecycle, from first principles analysis and hands-on prototyping through validation, manufacturing ramp, and deployment. This role requires strong technical judgment, high ownership, and a willingness to move fluidly between detailed mechanical design work and broader system-level tradeoffs. You will work closely with Electrical, Software, Integration, Test, Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to deliver hardware that is not only functional, but manufacturable, inspectable, serviceable, and built to scale.

Requirements

4+ years of full-time industry experience designing electromechanical and structural assemblies
Proven ownership of complex subassemblies or full systems through multiple product development cycles
Demonstrated CAD fluency for system-level ownership (3D/2D of 20–30 parts simultaneously)
Experience working directly with suppliers and incorporating DFM feedback into design decisions
Experience working on structural components and mechanisms, identifying worst-case loads, creating quick test setups
Strong foundation in GD&T, FEA, design for assembly, and design for real-world field operation
Hands-on prototyping experience and a track record of moving quickly through build-test-iterate cycles
Ability to use hand calculations to bound problems and validate designs(beam, buckling, bolted joints, etc.)
Knowledge of appropriate safety margins for human safety critical applications
Experience with electromechanical assemblies including PCBAs, sensors, and connectors
Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills

Nice To Haves

Aerospace or automotive validation experience
Experience scaling hardware from prototype builds to production processes such as injection molding, stamping, extrusion, or other high-volume methods
Experience with carbon fiber composite structures
Explicit experience with high-efficiency electric powertrain components
Experience working with highly integrated electromechanical assemblies with system-level constraints
Ability to think beyond just mechanical engineering– proven track record of addressing the reliability, maintenance, systems, and safety aspects of a complex system
NX as your primary CAD tool

Responsibilities

Own critical mechanical systems and assemblies from concept through production and deployment
Develop elegant, practical design solutions for highly integrated electromechanical hardware
Translate product and system requirements into robust mechanical architectures, detailed designs, and validation plans
Perform first-principles analysis, hand calculations, tolerance analysis, and FEA to inform design decisions
Build prototypes, run experiments, and iterate quickly based on test data and field needs
Partner with suppliers to improve manufacturability, quality, cost, and scalability
Drive design reviews and cross-functional decision-making with Electrical, Software, Integration, Test, and Production teams
Ensure designs meet requirements for safety, performance, reliability, manufacturability, and serviceability
Support hardware through build, qualification, and production ramp, staying close to issues until they are fully resolved
Contribute to a culture of high standards, fast learning, and mission-driven execution