Supplier Industrialization Engineer

About Zipline

Zipline’s mission is to provide every human on Earth with instant access to vital medical supplies. We believe that where you live should never dictate whether you live. We are at the forefront of a logistics revolution, using autonomous aircraft to deliver just-in-time, life-saving medical supplies at national scale in several countries and expanding around the world. Are you interested in building a system that 500 million people will depend on with their lives?

About the Role

As a Supplier Industrialization Engineer (SIE) focused on composite materials and structures, you will play a critical role in scaling Zipline’s manufacturing supply chain from early prototypes to full-rate production. You’ll serve as a key technical partner to the hardware engineering team, embedding Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles into composite part and assembly designs. You will also lead supplier development, process optimization, and quality assurance for advanced composite manufacturing, ensuring the production of lightweight, structurally reliable, and cost-efficient components at scale.

Composites at Zipline are broad in scope, ranging from traditional carbon fiber prepreg structures to other advanced composite systems using RTM, thermoplastics, epoxy adhesives, and various forming processes. Understanding how fiber reinforcements interact with curing agents—whether through resin infusion, heat-cured epoxies, or thermoplastic matrix systems—is central to this role. Injection molding and thermoplastic overmolding experience is a plus! This is a high-impact opportunity to architect how our most critical structural components are built, tested, and scaled

What You’ll Do

Supplier Development & Process Scaling

• Qualify and manage suppliers specializing in carbon fiber, glass fiber, and other fiber-reinforced composite systems, including thermoset and thermoplastic-based processes.
   
• Assess and develop manufacturing processes involving prepreg layup, vacuum bagging, autoclave curing, resin infusion, out-of-autoclave methods, various internal pressurization methods and bonded assemblies.
  
  
• Support material selection and supplier collaboration across a wide range of fiber types, curing chemistries, and resin systems—from high-strength carbon fiber to structural glass composites.
  
  

Quality & Process Control

• Drive implementation of pFMEAs, SPC, and control plans tailored to composite layup, curing variability, and bond-line performance.
  
  
• Lead failure analysis efforts related to delamination, voiding, resin-rich zones, or adhesive bond failures.
  
  
• Validate key process parameters like fiber orientation, resin content, cure cycle consistency, and post-cure dimensional stability.
  
  
• Utilize tools such as JMP, Minitab, or R for data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement of supplier performance.
  
  

Manufacturing Readiness & Optimization

• Collaborate with Design Engineers to ensure that composite parts are optimized for manufacturability, cure consistency, and mechanical performance.
  
  
• Develop DFM guidelines specific to composite part geometry, ply schedules, and integrated bonding features.
  
  
• Support the development and qualification of thermoset adhesive systems used to join composite-to-composite and composite-to-metal interfaces.
  
  
• Lead efforts to streamline tooling design, trimming/finishing operations, and bonding workflows to support production ramp-up.
  
  
• Implement in-line and end-of-line inspection systems including NDT (ultrasound, thermography) for early defect detection.

What You’ll Bring

✅ 7+ years of experience in Supplier Industrialization, Manufacturing Engineering, or Supplier Quality, with deep focus in composite materials and structural systems
✅ Expertise in thermoset composite processes, including epoxy adhesive bonding, thermoplastic resin systems, and fiber/resin cure interactions
✅ Strong technical background in composite process development, including prepreg layup, infusion, autoclave and out-of-autoclave curing
✅ Experience qualifying and managing suppliers producing complex structural composite parts under tight mechanical and thermal tolerances
✅ Proficiency in failure analysis, bond strength testing, ply inspection, and quality system implementation (AS9100, ISO9001)
✅ Skilled in tools like JMP, Minitab, or Python for process validation and quality monitoring
✅ Fluent in interpreting ply drawings, ply books, and engineering drawings involving GD&T and composite-specific tolerances
✅ Experience collaborating cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain to drive technical decisions at scale
✅ Passion for building reliable, scalable composite systems for real-world, safety-critical aerospace applications

Why Join Zipline?

At Zipline, we’re pioneering the future of logistics with cutting-edge autonomous technology that saves lives. As a Supplier Industrialization Engineer, you will have a direct impact on scaling our mechanical manufacturing processes, ensuring that we can deliver high-quality products at scale.

If you thrive in dynamic, hands-on environments, love solving complex manufacturing challenges, and are excited to drive innovation in supplier development, we want to hear from you! 🚀

What else you need to know

This role is an in-person role, based out of our South San Francisco HQ. Must be eligible to work in the US and travel globally 40-50% of the time as needed. The starting cash range for this role is $130,000 - $185,000. 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; overtime pay; 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, 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!