New Products Ground Systems Mechanical Design Engineer

The role

You will own mechanical product development for next-generation ground systems. This involves turning ambiguous concepts into reliable, manufacturable hardware for aircraft launch, recovery, recharge, and mission preparation.

What you will do

• Own architecture, mechanical design, build, and validation of automated ground systems.
• Design structures, precision mechanisms, electromechanical assemblies, and integrated hardware.
• Reduce technical risk through first-principles analysis, rapid prototypes, and instrumented testing.
• Define and execute validation for performance, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and usability.
• Partner with electrical, software, controls, manufacturing, operations, civil engineering, and supply chain teams.
• Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to translate prototypes into production-ready assemblies.
• Lead technical reviews and make product tradeoffs.

Required qualifications

• Experience owning complex electromechanical systems or larger pieces of automated machinery from concept through production.
• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including structural analysis, mechanism design, CAD, tolerancing, and design for manufacturing.
• Experience integrating motors, sensors, actuators, electronics, and software into reliable hardware systems.
• Practical knowledge of machining, sheet metal, welded structures, castings, molded parts, and mechanical assemblies.
• Demonstrated ability to solve ambiguous engineering problems through hands-on prototyping, experimentation, and sound technical judgment.
• Ability to design reliable machinery for operational environments where safety, human interaction, and autonomous-aircraft interfaces matter.
• Clear technical communication and the ability to lead cross-functional decisions.

Benefits

• Equity compensation
• Discretionary annual or performance bonuses
• Sales incentives
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off

About the company

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. They design, build, and operate an autonomous logistics system to deliver food, medicine, and essential goods.