Zip Motion Planning Intern (Summer 2027)

The role

You will develop and evaluate motion planning algorithms for autonomous aircraft. You will build simulation and analysis tools and use flight data to guide improvements.

What you will do

• Develop and evaluate motion planning algorithms for autonomous aircraft, exploring approaches such as search, sampling, and optimization.
• Build simulation and analysis tools to compare planner behavior and investigate challenging scenarios.
• Use simulation and flight data to identify long-tail issues, validate safety metrics, and guide improvements.
• Transition experimental solutions to scalable, real-world applications.
• Collaborate closely with team members, brainstorming and deriving creative solutions from first principles.
• Share findings and insights, fostering knowledge exchange across teams

Required qualifications

• Working toward a BS, MS, or PhD in engineering, computer science, or robotics
• Experience with C++ or Rust
• Familiarity with planning and search algorithms or trajectory optimization
• Familiarity solving problems involving real-world physics and dynamics
• Solid engineering intuition for keeping things simple and solving the right problems

Benefits

• relocation support
• a housing stipend
• overtime pay
• paid sick time

Before you apply

• Candidates are limited to three (3) applications within a 30-day period.

About the company

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. They design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system.