South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$155k–$225k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: C++, Rust, Python, Motor Control, Embedded Systems
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: 2D CAD, 3D CAD, Structural Analysis, Prototyping, Root Cause Analysis
South San Francisco, California, United States · Hybrid
$125k–$210k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: C++, Rust, Python, Embedded Linux, RTOS
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$145k–$185k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: C, C++, Python, Linux Kernel, Real-time Systems
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Public Relations, Media Monitoring, Strategic Communications, Project Management, Written Communication
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$170k–$210k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Rust, C++, Safety-Critical Software, Embedded Systems, CI/CD
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$145k–$190k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: GIS, Spatial Analysis, Data Wrangling, Excel, Google Sheets
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$65k–$80k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Customer Support, Operations Management, Quality Assurance, Process Improvement, SOP Documentation
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$200k–$260k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Quantitative Risk Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis, FMEA, Risk Modeling, Systems Engineering
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$113k–$300k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Analytical Modeling, Strategic Planning, Business Operations, Cross-functional Coordination, Forecasting
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$113k–$300k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Operational Problem Solving, Workflow Optimization, Data Analysis, Cross-functional Leadership, Systems Thinking
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Flight Algorithms, Dynamic Modeling, Linear Control Analysis, Optimal Control, C
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$28/hr–$30/hr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Shipping and Receiving, Inventory Management, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Material Handling Equipment, Cycle Counting
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Fluid Mechanics, Aerodynamics, Flight Physics, Aeronautical Engineering, Acoustics
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$150k–$180k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Python, Pytest, Rust, C, CI/CD
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$145k–$225k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Hardware Validation, People Management, Battery Testing, Electric Propulsion, Test Automation
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Analytical Problem Solving, Spreadsheet Proficiency, Data Analysis, Written Communication, Verbal Communication
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$210k–$250k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Real-time Systems, API Design, Distributed Systems, AWS, Kubernetes
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
$160k–$220k/yr
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: Quantitative Risk Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis, FMEA, Hazard Analysis, Systems Engineering
South San Francisco, California, United States · On-site
About Zipline Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We des…
Skills: 3D CAD Software, NX, GD&T, Manufacturing Process Design, APQP
South San Francisco, California, United States • On-site
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Design and implement high-performance motor controller firmware and estimators for propulsion motors and actuators using C++. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to validate firmware through bench tests, flight tests, and vehicle simulations.
Requires fluency in C/C++ and experience with mechatronic control systems and embedded environments. Candidates must have a systems-engineering mindset and the ability to work on-site in South San Francisco.
Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today, Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date, including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products.
Our customers include the world’s largest and most prominent healthcare systems, governments, retailers, restaurants and global businesses who rely on us to save lives, reduce emissions, increase economic opportunity, and provide delivery from point A to point B as fast as possible. The drone is only 15% of what we’ve built to enable seamless, reliable, global operations.
Our system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back. With more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown, Zipline is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food across the globe.
We operate at a global scale and are looking for practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth. Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct, meaningful impact on people’s lives and by scaling the future of logistics. We are seeking people who sculpt from first principles, enjoy facing adversity, and can do the impossible at record breaking speeds.
As a Senior Motor Control Engineer at Zipline, you’ll be responsible for shipping high-performance motor controller firmware for Zipline’s family of proprietary motor controllers. Expect to work closely with electrical engineers, structures and mechanism designers, flight software developers, and test-site operations teams. Our close-knit engineering culture presents a unique opportunity to learn from a strong multi-disciplinary team, and lets you swiftly ship features that are clearly linked to the delivery experience.
We use C++ in our firmware development, with Rust and Python for tooling that will be deployed to our production systems in the field. The team uses hardware- and software-in-the-loop test infrastructure to validate new features and regression test existing functionality. You’ll often be querying large data-sets from our test operations to make high-quality data-driven engineering decisions and build prototypes of new algorithms. You’ll build analyses in Matlab, Julia, or Python to prove the performance of your controls designs, and execute Monte-Carlo simulations to validate complex dynamics.
The starting cash range for this role is $155,000 - $225,000. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash pay for this role will depend on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, working location, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may also include: equity compensation; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; and more.
Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws or our own sensibilities.
We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!
We have received reports stating that certain individuals are reaching out to people under false pretenses, claiming to be Zipline employees, affiliates, agents, or representatives. They may seek to gain access to your personal information or to acquire money from you by offering fictitious employment opportunities or by claiming that they are contacting you on Zipline’s behalf.
Genuine Zipline employees or representatives will never ask you for money or payment in exchange for employment opportunities or other related services. Any such offer of employment or any other service in exchange for fees that claims to be from us is deceitful and part of a fraud.
If you believe you have been targeted by a fraudulent party, we ask that you immediately get in touch with us via email at [email protected] upon receiving a suspicious offer or claim.
Zipline was founded to create the first logistics system that serves all humans equally. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges. Leveraging expertise in robotics and autonomy, Zipline designs, manufactures and operates the world’s largest automated delivery system. Zipline serves tens of millions of people around the world and is making good on the promise of building an equitable and more resilient global supply chain. From powering Rwanda’s national blood delivery network and Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, to providing on-demand home delivery for Walmart and enabling leading healthcare providers to bring care into the home in the United States, Zipline is transforming the way goods move. By transitioning to clean, electric, instant logistics, we can decarbonize delivery, decrease road congestion, and reduce fossil fuel consumption and air pollution, while providing equitable access for billions of people. The technology is complex but the idea is simple: a teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it. Zipline is inspiring people, governments, and businesses to imagine what is possible when goods can move as seamlessly as information. To join the team, check out our career page: https://flyzipline.com/careers/
Offices: 333 Corey Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, US
Based on 124 listings with disclosed salaries, most transportation jobs in South San Francisco, CA pay between $120k–$250k per year. Individual offers vary with seniority, company size, and specialization.
There are currently 179 open transportation positions in South San Francisco, CA listed on Clera. New openings are added daily as companies post roles.
Companies currently hiring include Zipline, Avis Budget Group, Reyes Beverage Group, Allied Universal, DSV - Global Transport and Logistics, among others. Browse the listings above to see every active employer.
Yes — 5 of the 179 open transportation positions offer remote or hybrid work (1 remote, 4 hybrid).
Each listing links directly to the employer's application page. Apply early — fresh listings get the most recruiter attention in the first two weeks.
