Aerodynamics Intern (Spring 2027)

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. They design, build, and operate an autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries. Their system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and saves people time, with over 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown.

About The Applied Aerodynamics Team

The Aerodynamics team is responsible for the aerodynamic performance of Zipline's aircraft, covering everything from body and propeller design to vehicle dynamics and aeroacoustics. They collaborate with nearly every other engineering team, including GNC, structures, mechanical integration, avionics, perception, systems, and weather.

The Role

As an intern in the Aerodynamics Team, you will work on current projects alongside experienced aerodynamicists and aeronautical engineers. This internship provides an opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a practical, fast-paced environment, leveraging physics to solve real problems. You will learn to use various tools for analysis, including low-fidelity calculations, CFD simulation, and experimental analysis, to contribute to the design of current and future products.

What You'll Do

• Vehicle design analysis including aerodynamics, propulsion, and power system performance.
• Low- and high-fidelity analytical modeling of vehicle subsystems and behaviors.
• Aerodynamic database generation and analysis of flight behaviors.
• Experiment planning, execution, and data analysis, from wind tunnels to flight tests.
• Support multidisciplinary teams including controls, mechanical, production, software, and electrical engineers to tackle design challenges and resolve time-sensitive issues.

What You'll Bring

• Studies in one or more of the following areas: fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, flight physics, aeronautical engineering, acoustics. A strong understanding of the technical content of these courses is essential for good engineering judgment.
• Understanding and experience with any of the following toolsets is advantageous:
• Continuum- or Lattice Boltzmann-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD), such as STAR-CCM+, Fluent, OpenFOAM, or PowerFLOW.
• Wind tunnel test identification, planning, execution, troubleshooting, and data analysis using a variety of electro-mechanical and optical diagnostic techniques.
• Flight test planning for system identification and simulation validation, cross-functional planning, test execution, and data analysis.
• Software tools such as MATLAB, Python, Rust, or similar.
• CAD advanced surfacing tools, such as CATIA or NX.
• Ability to work in the head office in South San Francisco. Limited travel (within California) may be required for certain testing programs.

Internship Details

• Full-time, in-person positions.
• Location: South San Francisco or Dallas office.
• Duration: January to April/May for Spring 2027.
• Candidates are limited to three (3) applications within a 30-day period.
• Hourly Rate: $48 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.