Test Engineering Manager - Powertrain (Multiple Roles)

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

14h•$145,000 - $225,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking two Hardware Test Engineering Manager roles to lead the strategy, development, and execution of hardware validation and test activities across the product lifecycle. These roles require hands-on technical expertise and people leadership, ensuring high-quality, reliable hardware products delivered on schedule. The two roles within Powertrain team are: Energy and Power: batteries, cells, charging, power distribution, energy safety Electric Drivetrain: electric propulsion, motors, propellers, electromechanical systems. You will be responsible for leading a team of multidisciplinary engineers, developing world-class test methods, equipment, and execution of hardware testing. This role is for the full lifecycle of hardware development, from performance testing to find the limits of the hardware, system-level performance tests, durability and environmental survivability, and the development of automated hardware testing for production line applications. You will act as a player-coach who has an area of expertise in either batteries or electric propulsion, and is comfortable providing strategic vision as well as being in the weeds of the team's designs, builds, analysis and reviews. You will help Zipline evolve its hardware testing philosophy and capacity, and grow the team in the process. The success of this team is vital to the success of Zipline overall. This effort will enable Zipline’s impact to expand from 100’s of thousand deliveries/year to 100’s of millions in a wide variety of environmental conditions around the world.

Requirements

Past success leading engineering teams to rapidly develop first of its kind hardware and deploy into the field with the level of rigor that a high volume or safety critical application requires.
Deep technical depth in test hardware design and interfacing with software and automation, structures, mechanisms, and how to rapidly and effectively test for performance, capability, and reliability
Enthusiasm for building a team - finding and convincing top talent to join you in your work.
Past success managing and developing an excellent team of engineers.
Past success bringing products through the full product development life cycle
Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
10+ years of experience in hardware test, validation, or reliability engineering
3+ years of people management or technical leadership experience
Strong understanding of hardware design, electronics, and system-level testing.
Strong understanding of fatigue analysis, damage models, material properties.
Strong understanding of test acceleration methods and principles
Expertise in either: Battery and cell testing, especially for mass sensitive applications Motors and Electro-magnetics Propeller and Aerodynamics
Familiarity with scripting, automation tools, and the automation of data analysis (Python preferred)

Responsibilities

Lead a team of test engineers and specialists responsible for powertrain testing.
Demonstrating the ultimate capability of powertrain hardware, including batteries, cells, power distribution units, electric propulsion units, and electromechanical actuators.
Contributing to the overall intuition of the engineering team through close involvement in design reviews, prototyping, and testing of components and assemblies.
Designing, building, operating, purchasing and maintaining test equipment.
Developing strategies and test campaigns to efficiently evaluate function, reliability and safety of critical components and assemblies.
Developing calculations for damage and fatigue to replicate flight conditions in ground-based test methods.
Root causing failures alongside design engineers and working to create elegant solutions.
Recreate system-level effects including off-nominal scenarios and safety tests.
Raise the bar for the existing team by creating a vision for the future of the team based on company goals, and implementing strategies to achieve outcomes.
Develop laboratory grade test setups for either of: Battery Testing including safety testing and thermal runaway testing Cell Testing for cell cycle life and performance optimization Motor Testing including dynamometer development and motor characterization Propeller Testing including aerodynamic characterization
Scope out areas where growth is needed and make key hires that revolutionize the quality and pace of work
Leverage your technical leadership experience in relevant fields to establish a team culture that biases towards action and tests ideas to achieve radically simple and reliable designs.
Motivate your team with a clear vision and create ambitious plans for your team’s work while holding a high bar for technical quality
Build your team by hiring world class engineers