Mechanical Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)

About Zipline

Zipline is a drone delivery service focused on serving all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine, and essential goods. The company designs, builds, and operates an autonomous logistics system, having completed millions of deliveries globally. Zipline operates on four continents and is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food. The team is motivated by building systems with a direct, meaningful impact on people's lives and scaling the future of logistics.

The Role

This is a Mechanical Engineer Intern role focused on tackling cross-disciplinary projects from conceptual stages to field deployment. The work is intended for real-world application where customers rely on it daily. Interns will be expected to reduce risk and improve system reliability. The role involves working with a fast-paced team focused on important goals, eliminating blockers, and executing with practicality.

Mechanical Engineers at Zipline focus on their area of ownership, become experts in their problem domain, define system requirements, develop solutions, and validate systems through testing for real-world deployment. Teams are responsible for system design, test and validation strategies, and troubleshooting existing systems.

What You'll Do

Mechanical interns will own significant problems integral to Zipline's system, including:

• Taking product and engineering requirements to develop concepts and evaluate tradeoffs.
• Using 2D and 3D CAD tools to design parts and assemblies based on engineering principles.
• Designing, building, and testing prototypes to gather quick learnings.
• Working cross-functionally with other Zipline teams and suppliers to review designs.
• Designing, building, and running electro-mechanical testers to prove reliability of critical components.
• Evaluating designs and components at material, element, and integrated product levels.
• Root causing failures and developing tests to replicate failure modes.
• Documenting work for clarity and understanding of key decisions.

Examples of previous intern projects include:

• Designing, building, testing, and running a flexible blind-mate ducting connection for aircraft battery temperature regulation.
• Developing a service strategy for removing docked aircraft using a custom-designed hand cart with ergonomic considerations.
• Building a communications tower with integrated antennas and lightning protection for drone telemetry.
• Characterizing proposed and delivered materials and properties of configured structures.
• Creating a wing cycle tester to identify and eliminate risk for wing iterations.

What You'll Bring

The most critical skill is robust experience designing and building multiple mechanical systems outside of the classroom.

• Completion of at least the second year of Undergraduate studies. Masters and PhD students are also eligible.
• Solid mechanical engineering fundamentals for structural analysis, sizing parts, and integrating components.
• Automation experience working with actuators and Raspberry Pi’s (or similar).
• Proficiency in CAD with experience designing multiple projects.
• Experience on complex projects requiring mechanical, electrical, and software design.
• Ability to change direction quickly when a mistake is realized or a simpler solution is found.
• Bias to action and consistent communication with the team.
• Enthusiasm for building design skills through brainstorms, design reviews, and failure mode analysis.
• Ability to anticipate, plan, and schedule own work.
• A “can do” attitude and investment in solving critical problems.

What Else You Should Know

• Internships are full-time, in-person positions at the South San Francisco or Dallas office.
• Summer 2027 interns will be hosted from May/June to August/September.
• The hourly rate for this internship is $40 per hour.
• Additional benefits may include relocation support, a housing stipend, overtime pay, and paid sick time, where applicable.
• Candidates are limited to three (3) applications within a 30-day period.