Supplier Industrialization Engineer

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

7h•Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service, on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. They design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, making deliveries every 30 seconds across four continents, with millions of deliveries completed. Their system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back, having safely flown over 140 million commercial autonomous miles. Zipline seeks practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth, motivated by building systems with direct, meaningful impact. The role involves transitioning a first-of-its-kind autonomous robotic system from prototype to volume manufacturing, requiring focus on critical steps and leadership. This is an in-person role based out of their HQ in South San Francisco, requiring 40-60% travel to critical partners in Asia and North America.

Requirements

You have worked for a minimum of 2-15+ years in a fast paced and high growth environment as a Supplier Quality Engineer, Supplier Development Engineer, or Supplier Industrialization Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Process Engineering.
You have successfully launched into volume production complex manufactured components and assemblies from prototype through mass production stages.
You have actively participated in product design efforts and thus know what it takes to transition from prototype to volume production (CAD system experience like Nx, Catia, Solidworks is a bonus).
You have implemented First Article Inspection criteria, PPAP requirements, and Supplier Quality Scorecard metrics
You have worked with an established Quality System and applied it to improve your supply base (applicable standards are AS9100/ISO9001/IATF16949).
You have achieved measurable results with implementing Product Quality Planning with part suppliers and contract manufacturers, both domestic and overseas (applicable examples are Advanced Product Quality Planning, Production Part Approval Process, Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, SPC)
You can thrive in structured and unstructured environments and are not dissuaded at the prospect of making hard decisions about what is important and urgent against a backdrop of limited resources.

Nice To Haves

Advanced technical degree with experience developing new products, managing the transition from prototype to mass production, and creating order from chaos
You are a first principles problem solving - you understand the value of methods such as 8D, 5-WHY, Pareto Charts and Fishbone Diagrams because you have achieved measurable results by using them and influencing others to do the same.
Technical expertise in at least several of the following disciplines: PCBA Assembly, PCB Fabrication, Carbon Fiber/Composites, Machining/Casting/Extruded/Stamping, Motor Manufacturing (Lamination, Winding, Magnets, etc), Injection Molding, inspection fixture design, GD&T, metrology (CMM/OMM programming and inspection), manufacturing line setup , electro-mechanical assembly & testing etc
Experience managing vendors in various geographies with a strong understanding of what manufacturing excellence looks like across a variety of processes. Demonstrated ability to walk into a new potential supplier and rapidly assess industrialization capability, reliability and quality, and safety
You have a good understanding of and have successfully implemented the correct gated controls within a product development process and achieved the intended results.
You have strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to drive aggressive timelines with key stakeholders internally and externally.

Responsibilities

Own component development qualification activities at suppliers and interact with Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, Integrated Planning, and Manufacturing Operations teams to scale Zipline’s manufacturing footprint.
Plan, organize, direct and conduct industrialization related activities within the Design Engineering , Manufacturing, Material Planning, New Product Introduction (NPI) and Supply Chain teams.
Participate in Supplier Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews, guide suppliers in efficient use of poka-yokes, best methods of gauging, and correct tools or assembly equipment to use. Provide feedback to Zipline Design teams to ensure alignment and incorporation of feedback during validation build phases and into mass production.
Lead, track and improve Supplier manufacturing process development and launch readiness for design changes, new products and outsourcing initiatives.
Lead and implement Supplier improvements in scalability, cost, and quality.
Guide Suppliers in developing exceptionally robust processes and procedures to promote seamless and efficient production of high quality electrical components.
Facilitate communication and clarification of technical requirements between Suppliers and Zipline’s Design, Internal Quality and Procurement teams. Collaborate with Zipline Design, Internal Quality and Manufacturing/NPI to determine ideal performance specifications and Supplier metrics.
Drive improvements utilizing Lean methodologies, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and supplier scorecards.
Own should-cost modelling and support GSM in pricing/negotiations.