ABOUT ZIPLINE

Do you want to change the world? Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges by building, manufacturing and operating the first instant delivery and logistics system that serves all humans equally, wherever they are. From powering Rwanda’s national blood delivery network and Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, to providing on-demand home delivery for Walmart, to enabling healthcare providers to bring care directly to U.S. homes, we are transforming the way things move for businesses, governments and consumers. The technology is complex but the idea is simple: a teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it. As a Senior Software/Hardware Test Engineer, you’ll be the foundational member to build our hardware test infrastructure used both in reliability testing and on our production line. You will work closely with our Embedded Software Team and Hardware Development teams to create test tooling that can scale and grow with Zipline as we bring to life our next generation drone delivery platform. We are seeking someone passionate about creating software tools that can scale and accelerate the rate of progress across the team. 

About You and The Role  

The Powertrain team is a multi-disciplinary hardware and software team responsible for designing the electric drivetrain at the heart of our life-saving drone delivery service, operating in some of the harshest environments on earth. 

As the Hardware Test Automation Lead, you’ll be a lead and a foundational member to build our hardware test infrastructure used both in reliability testing and on our production line. You will work closely with our Embedded Software Team and Hardware Development teams to create test tooling that can scale and grow with Zipline as we bring to life our next generation drone delivery platform. We are seeking someone passionate about creating software tools that can scale and accelerate the rate of progress across the team. 

If you're a self-starter with a strong background in software development, embedded systems, and hardware test automation AND have a passion for mentorship and guiding others to success, then we want to hear from you.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Hire, lead, and mentor the software/hardware test engineering department responsible for powertrain performance and reliability testing, including building this function within the department and setting the bar for performance and reliability testing.
• Manage the requirements and verification test plans of the next-generation of Zipline powertrain hardware, from battery systems, power electronics, compute systems, and electromechanical components. 
• Manage the development of custom test hardware and software (Python) for reliability testing and production-line testing. 
• Drive root-cause understanding of test failures; drive test campaigns to stay one step ahead of the design process.
• Develop test methods and analyses for complex interactions between hardware and embedded software on motors, batteries, and related control algorithms. 
• Maintain visibility across the hardware your team owns, and have the ability to deep dive into projects and challenges.
• Leverage your technical leadership expertise in hardware design and test to establish a team culture that biases toward action and tests ideas.
• Lead the demonstration of powertrain system performance, including range, efficiency and weather performance.

 

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Minimum 5 years of experience in hardware test automation, electrical design, embedded software, and/or electrical test engineering.
• Past success growing and leading a high-performance team, either via direct leadership or technical mentorship.
• Deep experience with programming language Python.
• Strong engineering fundamentals in the areas of power electronics, motor control (e.g. drive inverters), battery electronics, and EMI/EMC.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to explain technical challenges and solutions to fellow engineers and non-engineers alike.
• Experiencing using industrial test automation and data logging equipment (NI cDAQ) and associated sensor selection. 
• Deep experience with environmental and durability testing.
• Must be eligible to work in the US
• Must be able to work in person at Zipline’s South San Francisco Headquarters

 

What Else You Need to Know   

The starting cash range for this role is $160,000 - $200,000. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash pay for this role will depend on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, working location, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may also include: equity compensation; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; and more.

Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by state, federal or local law or our other policies.

We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!