Zipline · 1 week ago
System Validation & Automation Intern (Summer 2026)
South San Francisco, CA
Internship
Onsite
Intern
$40/hr - $44/hr
Start in 2026 SummerZipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move by building an instant logistics system that serves all humans equally. As a System Validation Intern, you will contribute to testing and validating Zipline’s complete system of systems, helping to ensure the reliability of systems that deliver life-saving goods worldwide while gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools and technologies.
DeliveryDronesElectric VehicleHome Health CareLogisticsRoboticsSupply Chain Management
Responsibilities
Assist in executing Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) tests and flight tests to validate the interaction between Zipline’s Zip, Droid, and Dock systems
Collaborate with a wide range of engineers from different teams to build and refine automated pipelines that test software before it is deployed in flight
Analyze and troubleshoot hardware and software issues uncovered during testing, contributing to system improvements
Gain hands-on experience with testing equipment, such as multimeters and oscilloscopes, to validate hardware performance
Work alongside a multidisciplinary team to design and execute system-level validation plans
Develop and enhance scripts and tools to support automated testing workflows
Learn how to ensure reliability and quality in complex, safety-critical systems, gaining valuable insights into real-world engineering challenges
Qualification
Required
Strong understanding of engineering design fundamentals and the ability to triage and identify root causes of technical issues
Experience writing Python scripts to automate tasks or tests, either through coursework or personal projects
Hands-on experience writing Python tests using tools like Pytest or Unittest
Familiarity with creating and executing test plans or validation plans for software or hardware systems
A hands-on approach to problem-solving, including debugging and triaging technical issues
General understanding of electrical systems such as motors, sensors, cameras, and onboard computers
Experience working in a Linux environment, including using command-line tools effectively
Familiarity with tools like Git for version control, bazel for build and test management and Jira for task tracking
Basic understanding of networking concepts such as RPC or sockets
Experience working with CI tools like GitHub Actions, Buildkite, or similar
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills to document test results and track issues effectively
A collaborative mindset with the ability to communicate and work effectively in a team environment
Preferred
Experience in Robotics/Automation: Prior exposure to robotics systems, automation, or sensor data (through coursework, projects, or clubs) is a plus
Software Development: Exposure to object-oriented programming (e.g., C++ or Java) is a bonus
Cloud Computing/Big Data Tools: Familiarity with cloud services (AWS, GCP, Azure) or big data tools (Spark, Hadoop) is helpful but not required
Benefits
A housing stipend
Overtime pay
Relocation support
Paid sick time
And more.
Company
Zipline
Zipline designs, manufactures, and operates drones to deliver vital medical products.
Founded in 2011
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