Supplier Industrialization Engineering Intern (Summer 2026)

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

14h•Onsite

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 largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today, Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date, including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products. Our customers include the world’s largest and most prominent healthcare systems, governments, retailers, restaurants and global businesses who rely on us to save lives, reduce emissions, increase economic opportunity, and provide delivery from point A to point B as fast as possible. The drone is only 15% of what we’ve built to enable seamless, reliable, global operations. 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. Zipline is scaling drone production and flight operations by more than 20× over the next three years while maintaining best-in-class safety and reliability. You will own the entire supplier industrialization and supplier development engineering functions — building the team, processes, tools, and culture that make Zipline’s massive scale-up possible without compromising quality, delivery, or cost. As an SIE Intern, the projects you undertake will be focused on the improvement of manufacturing operations & quality at critical Zipline suppliers. This involves working with internal & external cross-functional stakeholders on design for manufacturing & assembly, manufacturing process design & implementation, statistical quality control, and root cause analysis to ensure that Zipline suppliers can meet quality, cost & delivery targets set for them.

Requirements

Must have at least completed the second year of your Undergraduate studies.
Proficiency in 3D CAD Software (NX preferred) & ability to read Engineering Drawings (with GD&T)
Understanding of traditional & non-traditional manufacturing processes (Machining, Injection Molding, Sheet Metal Stamping, 3D Printing, PCBA Manufacturing, Mechanical or Electromechanical Assembly, etc.)
Understanding of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) & Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
Understanding of Problem Solving Frameworks (8D, FTA, Pareto Analysis, etc.) & RCA/ CAPA Techniques used within these frameworks
Willingness to work in a super fast-paced environment that is in a constant state of evolution
Be a student pursuing a(n) graduate/ undergraduate degree in one of the following concentrations: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Mathematics.

Responsibilities

Participate in DfX discussions with internal and external stakeholders to ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability, assembly, and efficiency across Zipline’s Top Level Assemblies (TLAs) and sub-assemblies.
Assist with the planning, budgeting, design, procurement, commissioning, and validation of assembly lines and associated equipment at Zipline for Product Validation Builds and mass production at contract manufacturers (CMs).
Develop and maintain key process documentation such as Manufacturing Process Flows, FMEAs, Control Plans, and Work Instructions.
Provide training to operators and quality teams to ensure consistent standards in manufacturing and assembly processes.
Support in evaluating and qualifying new suppliers, ensuring they meet Zipline’s quality and production standards.
Assist in implementing manufacturing processes at supplier facilities to meet the Zipline Approval Process (ZAP) requirements.
Design fixtures for assembly and inspection, and propose automation strategies to improve efficiency and reliability, both at Zipline and supplier facilities.
Assist in performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to resolve quality issues, ensuring these actions are effectively implemented to prevent future occurrences.
Monitor and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as first-pass yield, on-time delivery, and cost of poor quality, generating regular reports for internal and external stakeholders to drive continuous improvements.
Assist in Continuous Improvement (CI) projects to enhance manufacturing processes, reduce costs, and improve product quality at both Zipline and its supplier locations