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Zipline

Builds and runs autonomous drone delivery

New Product Introduction Technical Program Manager

Program ManagementConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeSouth San Francisco, CA, USA$124k - $210k

About the Job

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline is required.
  • At least 3 years of experience in new product introduction, technical program management, hardware development, manufacturing operations, or product lifecycle work launching complex electromechanical or aerospace systems.
  • A demonstrable record of owning new product introduction launches from prototype through scaled production and field deployment, with measurable reliability and ramp outcomes, is required.
  • Experience with retrofit programs and managing supplier continuity under schedule pressure is required.
  • Strong technical judgment across product architecture, validation data interpretation, compatibility and interchangeability decisions, and tradeoffs among schedule, risk, and cost is required.
  • Experience with product lifecycle management and engineering change notice workflows, engineering change orders, build reviews, validation test plans, failure-mode analysis and root cause analysis, and issue-tracking systems is required.
  • Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings and bills of materials is required.
  • Direct supplier and factory-floor exposure, including ability to conduct on-site readiness audits and manage supplier mitigation plans, is required.
  • Ability to prioritize escalations, set clear acceptance criteria, and deliver measurable outcomes under tight schedules and high ambiguity is required.
  • Strong written and verbal communication for cross-functional leadership and executive updates is required.
  • Demonstrated experience with complex hardware systems such as robotics, aerospace, automotive, medical devices, or electromechanical products is required.
  • A history of reducing part proliferation, improving serviceability, or preventing large-scale retrofits is required.

Responsibilities

  • Own new product introduction launch readiness from early builds through phased rollout, production ramp, retrofit campaigns, and post-launch stabilization for aircraft and associated assemblies.
  • Define and maintain release-readiness gate criteria covering design verification, manufacturing process capability, supplier capacity, service procedures, spare-parts plans, and training; make go/no-go launch recommendations to program leadership and, when authorized, own final launch decisions for assigned releases.
  • Create and maintain integrated launch plans linking engineering milestones, validation test plans, build schedules, supplier lead times, material readiness, field deployment windows, and phased rollout logistics across sites.
  • Track and report schedule, cost, quality, and risk metrics weekly to stakeholders, with clear escalation paths; measure outcomes against production-yield, early field-failure, and fleet-availability targets set with program leadership.
  • Evaluate engineering changes for downstream impact on production, supply chain, service, fleet operations, and customers, and recommend whether to proceed, delay, phase, retrofit, substitute, or redesign.
  • Maintain detailed issue tracking for builds and releases, including component failures, process inefficiencies, material shortages, quality escapes, test failures, serviceability gaps, and readiness blockers, and drive cross-functional resolution to measurable closure criteria.
  • Make technical decisions on launch readiness, compatibility, retrofit strategy, risk buys, serviceability, and supply continuity based on product architecture, validation data, field risk, supplier lead times, and operational constraints.
  • Perform compatibility analysis of part design changes to determine supersession, interchangeability, and service impact.
  • Own demand and retrofit planning for new product releases and design changes, incorporating trial schedules, validation activities, material readiness, field deployment constraints, and phased rollout timing.
  • Partner with Design Engineering to implement product changes that reduce part proliferation, supply chain complexity, and lifecycle risk.
  • Collaborate with Field Service Engineering and Engineering Technicians to test new designs for improved serviceability, field repair effectiveness, and fleet support.
  • Perform end-of-life and obsolescence analyses to protect supply continuity and recommend redesigns or alternate sourcing when appropriate.

About the Company

Zipline

Builds and runs autonomous drone delivery

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
Late Stage VC
Total funding
$3.6B
Headquarters
South San Francisco, CA
Founded
2014

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