Long Range Platform Embedded Firmware Intern (Summer 2027)

As an Embedded Firmware intern at Zipline, you will take ownership of a meaningful project that improves the safety, reliability, or performance of Zipline's vehicles and ground systems. You will write and test software, work hands-on with hardware, and investigate real-world behavior seen in labs and operations. Your work will contribute directly to making autonomous deliveries more dependable, and you will learn from experienced engineers through mentorship and collaborative problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and test embedded software that supports Zipline’s vehicles, batteries, chargers, or ground systems.
• Work hands-on with hardware in the lab, learning how software communicates with sensors, power electronics, and other onboard components.
• Use logs, test equipment, and experiments to investigate unexpected behavior and turn findings into reliable fixes.
• Build automated tests that catch regressions early and help ensure our systems behave safely in real-world conditions.
• Own a scoped project from initial requirements through validation, with guidance from an experienced engineering mentor.
• Participate in design discussions, code reviews, and cross-functional work with electrical, mechanical, systems, and test engineers.
• Learn how safety-critical products move from an idea to deployed hardware while making a measurable contribution to Zipline Africa’s mission.

Requirements

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, ideally in your junior or senior year.
• Strong understanding of core engineering fundamentals and an ability to apply them to open-ended firmware problems.
• Experience with embedded platforms (i.e. ESP32, STM, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.)
• Experience with C/C++
• Proficiency in Unix
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Curiosity, ownership, and a willingness to learn quickly from both successes and failures.
• Ability to work onsite and collaborate closely with engineers in a hands-on firmware development environment.