Software Systems Validation Intern (Summer 2027)
Zipline
Posted 14 Nov 2026, 10:14 ET
This job at a glance
- Who can apply
- New grads and up to 1 year
- Must know
- OperationsData analysisStakeholder managementPythonSQLC++
- Nice to have
- Statistics
- Work
- On-site in South San Francisco · internship
- Pay
- Not stated by the employer.
- Skill demand
- Python68%Operations18%Stakeholder management8%Data analysis7%of 60 similar entry-level jobs posted in the US this week
- Listed
- Nov 14, 2026 · still open
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About Zipline
Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service, focused on serving all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine, and essential goods anytime, anywhere. They design, build, and operate an autonomous logistics system, making millions of deliveries globally.
About The System Validation Team
The Software Systems Validation team ensures the reliability, safety, and intended functionality of the software powering Zipline's autonomous delivery aircraft. This team operates at a system level, evaluating the interaction of components like navigation, perception, controls, planning, and actuation. They collaborate with various engineering groups to build validation tools, analyze performance, and identify risks, utilizing simulation, hardware testing, data-driven analysis, and system-level evaluations.
The Role
As a Software Systems Validation Intern, you will contribute to evaluating the software for Zipline's autonomous drone delivery system. Your responsibilities will include supporting the development of tests, tools, metrics, and visualizations to understand system performance, identify issues, and ensure reliability before flight. This role is designed for individuals eager to learn about the validation of complex robotic systems, problem-solving, and gaining hands-on experience with autonomy software, data analysis, and systems engineering.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the design and execution of test scenarios across the autonomous software stack to validate system-level requirements.
- Help develop and improve validation tools, workflows, and automation.
- Build visualizations or metrics that highlight performance trends, gaps, or regressions.
- Work with test infrastructure and data platform teams to run validation pipelines.
- Analyze results and contribute to identifying root causes of failures or unexpected behavior.
- Document findings and communicate insights to engineering stakeholders.
Requirements & Tech Stack
- Must have completed the second year of undergraduate studies in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. Masters and PhD students are also eligible.
- Coursework or project experience in robotics, controls, estimation, navigation, perception, or software development.
- Familiarity with testing, debugging, or validation methodologies (academic or project-based experience counts).
- Experience with data analysis using Python, SQL, or similar.
- Basic proficiency with a compiled language such as C/C++ or Rust.
- Curiosity, attention to detail, and a desire to learn how autonomous systems are validated in real-world environments.
Bonus Skills (Nice to Have)
- Exposure to hardware, actuators, sensors, and interfacing with software.
- Experience with robotics competitions, club projects, or research labs.
- Interest in requirements development, reliability engineering, or statistical validation.
What Else You Should Know
- This is a full-time, in-person internship at the South San Francisco office.
- Internship dates: May/June - August/September for Summer 2027.
- Hourly rate: $54 per hour.
- Additional benefits may include relocation support, a housing stipend, overtime pay, paid sick time, and other benefits, where applicable and subject to local requirements.