Z

Zipline

Builds and runs autonomous drone delivery

Quality Engineer

Full-Time
$105k - $180k/yr+ Equity compensation + Overtime pay + Annual or performance bonuses
Senior
South San Francisco, CA, USA
In Person
Manufacturing Quality & TestQuality Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 5 years of experience in quality engineering, supplier development engineering, or equivalent roles within complex manufacturing environments.
  • Demonstrated expertise in root-cause analysis tools, including 5-Why, Fishbone, and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), control plan development, and corrective-action frameworks including 8D and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA).
  • Ability to write clear inspection plans, work instructions, and supplier feedback reports.
  • Hands-on understanding of mechanical, electrical, and/or composite inspection techniques, plus familiarity with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
  • Experience partnering with suppliers on quality improvement and industrialization activities.
  • Ability to influence across Engineering, Production, Procurement, and Supplier teams.
  • A track record of driving cycle-time reductions or yield improvements through continuous improvement.
  • Experience using work-tracking software such as Jira and enterprise resource planning systems such as Odoo.
Responsibilities
  • Serve as the first line of defense for part and vehicle performance by reviewing and dispositioning discrepancies from all production processes, from receiving inspections through system end-of-line tests.
  • Lead root-cause analyses on one-off and recurring quality issues and drive corrective-action plans through closure.
  • Collaborate with Supplier Industrialization to provide actionable feedback, qualify new vendors, and improve incoming part quality.
  • Define and document inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and rework procedures for common failures in mechanical, electrical, and composite systems.
  • Partner with Test and End-of-Line Engineers to iterate on test-station designs, refine protocols, and streamline data capture.
  • Execute occasional hands-on inspections or audits to validate new procedures and train Quality Technicians.
  • Analyze quality data and key performance indicators to identify trends, generate insights, and recommend process improvements.
  • Own change control and revision of quality documentation, including standard operating procedures, work instructions, and technical drawings, to ensure current best practices are followed.

About the company

Zipline builds and operates autonomous drone delivery networks for retailers, restaurants and healthcare systems that need to move products without road traffic. Its electric aircraft carry food, prescriptions and other supplies from partner sites or distribution hubs to customers and health facilities. The company combines aircraft, charging equipment and delivery software with flight operations, so partners buy a logistics service rather than manage their own drones. Merchants use its ordering and tracking tools to reach customers, while governments and health systems contract for medical supply delivery. Zipline was founded in 2014 and has its headquarters in South San Francisco, California.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Series I

Total Funding

$3.1B

Headquarters

South San Francisco, California

Founded

2014

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Growth teams have fresh funding: Zipline raised over $600 million in January 2026 to expand delivery operations.
  • Consumer distribution is widening: Zipline announced Uber Eats integration in August 2026, with first deliveries planned later that year.
  • Operations extend beyond pilots: Zipline reported over 2.7 million completed deliveries across four continents in August 2026.

What critics are saying

  • New Texas scale is pending: Zipline's September 2026 five-metro proposal remains under FAA environmental review.
  • Bulk deliveries face a weight ceiling: Zipline's proposed Texas P2 aircraft have an eight-pound payload limit.
  • Field testing disrupts regular hours: Zipline's Esparto operator posting requires nights, weekends and occasional regional travel.

What makes Zipline unique

  • Its delivery pod steers itself: Zipline lowers an autonomous robot on a tether while the larger aircraft stays overhead.
  • Different docks share capacity: Zipline's P2 aircraft fly between docks and recharge before taking the next delivery.
  • Public health is a core customer: Zipline runs Rwanda's national blood-delivery network alongside its US consumer service.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Company Equity
  • Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

-1%

2 year growth

-2%
Semafor
Sep 22nd, 2026
Zipline secures 8-year Côte d'Ivoire deal to serve 12M people with drone delivery

US drone logistics company Zipline will expand operations in Côte d'Ivoire, building nine additional facilities to complement its existing site operational since 2023. The expansion aims to serve 12 million people, roughly a third of the Ivorian population, over the next eight years. During its three-year pilot programme, Zipline delivered nearly 4 million medical products — primarily vaccines and blood — to more than 200 healthcare centres in a region northwest of Abidjan. The Ivorian government will cover operating costs including pharmacy-grade warehousing, cold chain management, digital tracking, and delivery for eight years. Zipline expects the government to achieve a three-fold return on its investment, though the company declined to disclose the exact financial terms. The deal represents growing African government adoption of drone technology for delivering social services to hard-to-reach areas.

The Information
Sep 16th, 2026
Drone Delivery Startup Nears $20 Billion Valuation in New Funding Talks

Zipline, a startup making drones that can deliver small packages like meals and medical supplies, is in talks to raise $1 billion at a valuation of roughly $20 billion, according to three people with knowledge of the fundraise. The funding round, if it closes, would more than double its ...

Yahoo Finance
Aug 18th, 2026
Uber Eats partners with Zipline for drone deliveries, targeting 1M daily by 2029

Uber Technologies has partnered with drone delivery company Zipline to offer autonomous drone deliveries to Uber Eats customers in the US, with the service launching before year-end. Uber will make an undisclosed strategic investment in Zipline as part of the agreement. The partnership will enable Uber Eats users in areas where Zipline operates to select drone delivery for orders. The companies plan to expand the service to dozens more US cities and aim for a combined capacity of one million drone deliveries daily by end of 2029. Zipline currently operates on four continents. The partnership aims to reduce delivery times to between five and ten minutes for US customers. The agreement forms part of Uber's hybrid delivery strategy, which combines human couriers, pavement robots and drones.

Uber Technologies, Inc.
Aug 17th, 2026
Uber and Zipline Partner to Bring Drone Delivery to Millions of Americans

Strategic partnership targeting one million drone deliveries daily by the end of 2029, with first deliveries later this year. Drone delivery on Uber Eats will launch across existing Zipline markets and target expansion into dozens of US cities. Uber to make a strategic investment in Zipline, reinforcing a long-term partnership to accelerate the scale of drone delivery. Zipline, a leader in drone delivery, and Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) today announced a strategic partnership, which aims to scale drone delivery across the United States. Uber and Zipline are partnering to bring drone delivery to millions of Americans on Uber Eats The first deployments will begin later this year, where Uber Eats customers will have the option to receive their orders in minutes via Zipline’s autonomous drone delivery. Uber will also make a strategic investment in Zipline and, together, the companies aim to reach one million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029. Zipline operates on 4

TechCrunch
Aug 17th, 2026
Uber invests in Zipline, targets 1M daily drone deliveries by 2029

Uber is partnering with drone delivery company Zipline, aiming to make one million deliveries per day using Zipline's drones by the end of 2029. The first deliveries on Uber Eats will begin by year-end in Zipline's existing markets, with plans to expand into dozens of US cities. The companies did not disclose the investment amount. Uber is bringing multiple drone delivery partners onto its platform as it seeks to grow Uber Eats. The ride-hail giant previously partnered with Israeli startup Flytrex late last year. Zipline recently closed an extended Series H funding round of $800 million, reaching a valuation of $7.6 billion. Uber thinks Zipline's drones can fulfil orders within five to ten minutes.