Zipline · 2 hours ago
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
South San Francisco, California, USA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expZipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move, addressing urgent access challenges through innovative logistics solutions. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will be responsible for designing and scaling in-house manufacturing capabilities, ensuring production lines meet growing demand while improving cost and quality.
DeliveryDronesElectric VehicleHome Health CareLogisticsRoboticsSupply Chain Management
Responsibilities
Develop and optimize manufacturing processes and documentation for complex electro-mechanical assemblies, from prototype builds to full-scale production
Lead planning, budgeting, design, procurement, & commissioning of Assembly Lines and associated facilities & equipment at Zipline for Product Builds
Lead process validation and verification activities, including PFMEAs, capability studies, first article inspections, and pilot builds
Collaborate closely with design engineers to drive design-for-manufacturability (DFM), ensuring product designs are optimized for reliable and cost-effective assembly
Own tooling and fixture development, from concept through fabrication, installation, and validation, to support scalable and repeatable manufacturing
Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to improve quality, reduce cycle time, and lower production costs (e.g., lean manufacturing, automation, poka-yoke)
Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, working cross-functionally with quality, design, and maintenance teams to implement corrective and preventive actions
Support ramp-up of new products and manufacturing lines, coordinating cross-functional activities to ensure smooth transitions from development to production
Track and analyze manufacturing performance metrics, including first-pass yield, throughput, downtime, and cost of poor quality, to drive data-informed decisions
Provide technical mentorship to junior manufacturing engineers and technicians, sharing best practices and reviewing designs and process approaches
Qualification
Required
7+ years of experience designing and developing manufacturing lines - proven track record of scaling something from the 10s of products per month to the 1000s of products per month
Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering field or a related field
Design for Manufacturability (DFM/DFA): Strong understanding of how to influence product design for cost-effective, scalable, and reliable assembly
Hands-on experience working with products that combine mechanical systems, electronics, and software integration
Fixture and tooling design: Experience designing and validating custom fixtures, jigs, and tools to support repeatable, ergonomic, and efficient processes
Manufacturing process validation: Deep knowledge of PFMEA, control plans, process capability (Cp/Cpk), and statistical process control (SPC)
Proficiency in 3D CAD Software (Siemens NX preferred)
Proficient in writing SOPs, work instructions, and process flow documents
Familiar with statistical tools (e.g., Minitab, JMP, Excel) for analyzing yield, process capability, and production trends
MES/ERP systems: Experience with manufacturing execution systems and resource planning software to manage production data and operations
Skilled at identifying root causes and rapidly implementing sustainable corrective actions in a fast-paced environment
Proven ability to work with design, quality, supply chain, and operations teams to deliver manufacturing outcomes
Comfortable guiding and reviewing work of junior engineers and technicians
Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting processes, presenting data, and aligning teams
Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with minimal oversight—from planning through execution and sustainment
Worked in a super fast-paced environment that is in a constant state of evolution
Company
Zipline
Zipline designs, manufactures, and operates drones to deliver vital medical products.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Zipline has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (54)
2024 (39)
2023 (29)
2022 (20)
2021 (16)
2020 (3)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$971MKey Investors
U.S. Department of StateThe Rise FundKatalyst Ventures
2025-11-25Grant· $150M
2023-04-28Series F· $330M
2021-06-30Series E· $250M
Leadership Team
Keller Rinaudo Cliffton
Co-founder & CEO
Keenan Wyrobek
Founder, CTO and Product Architect
Recent News
felicis.com
2025-12-26
Company data provided by crunchbase