Engineering Technician - Powertrain

About You and The Role 

As an Engineering Technician on the Powertrain team, you will build, operate, troubleshoot, and improve the hardware and test systems used to develop, validate, and support our aircraft’s electrical power and propulsion systems.

The team owns the systems that store, distribute, convert, and use electrical energy throughout the aircraft—including battery cells and packs, power-distribution hardware, busbars, connectors, power electronics, electric motors, motor controllers, propellers, and integrated propulsion assemblies.

You will partner closely with design and test engineers to create the fixtures, instrumentation, automated test systems, and processes that enable development, qualification, manufacturing validation, and field support. Your scope will grow with experience, from building and executing individual tests to owning complex test systems and helping define team-wide validation practices.

What You'll Do

Prototype Development

• Build, assemble, modify, and maintain engineering prototypes for batteries, power electronics, electric motors, motor controllers, propellers, and integrated propulsion systems.
• Assemble and commission custom test equipment, fixtures, instrumentation, and laboratory infrastructure using engineering drawings, electrical schematics, and work instructions.
• Perform wiring, soldering, crimping, cable fabrication, connector assembly, and mechanical assembly using high-quality engineering and manufacturing practices.
• Fabricate and modify test fixtures, mechanical components, wiring harnesses, and laboratory tooling using standard shop equipment and rapid prototyping methods.
• Support engineering changes, prototype iterations, and hardware bring-up throughout the product development lifecycle.

Validation & Laboratory Operations

• Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory equipment including power supplies, battery cyclers, dynamometers, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, DAQ systems, environmental chambers, vibration equipment, and thermal instrumentation.
• Execute engineering validation activities including characterization, environmental, vibration, thermal, fatigue, abuse, electrical performance, and reliability testing.
• Collect, document, and organize engineering data while ensuring repeatability, traceability, and measurement quality.
• Maintain laboratory organization, calibration records, tooling, consumables, and equipment to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient engineering operations.
• Support commissioning of new laboratory equipment and validation infrastructure.

Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement

• Troubleshoot prototype hardware, laboratory equipment, and test systems, partnering with engineers to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Identify and implement improvements to laboratory workflows, assembly methods, fixture designs, tooling, and test efficiency.
• Develop and improve work instructions, assembly documentation, laboratory procedures, and standard operating practices.
• Partner closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Test, Manufacturing, Reliability, and Systems Engineers to rapidly iterate hardware and improve engineering execution.
• As experience grows, independently own prototype builds, laboratory equipment, validation activities, and portions of engineering programs while mentoring teammates and driving improvements to laboratory capability and engineering processes.
• Help improve laboratory capability, test throughput, documentation, and engineering standards.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience building, operating, or troubleshooting test equipment, production equipment, prototypes, or laboratory infrastructure for complex electromechanical products.
• Hands-on experience with batteries, power electronics, electric motors, motor controllers, propellers, rotating machinery, or related aerospace/robotics hardware.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and the ability to build robust fixtures, wiring, instrumentation, and test setups.
• Familiarity with measurement systems, sensors, DAQ hardware, electrical power systems, and laboratory safety practices.
• Experience reading mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, assembly documentation, and engineering work instructions.
• Experience executing environmental, thermal, vibration, fatigue, durability, reliability, or safety testing.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to independently diagnose and resolve mechanical and electrical issues.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to safe laboratory practices.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience with Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, NI TestStand, or similar automation tools is a plus.
• CAD experience with NX, SolidWorks, or similar tools is a plus.

What Else You Need To Know

The starting hourly range for this role is $36 - $50. This role includes overtime eligibility, stock options and full time benefits. Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws or our own sensibilities.

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!