Long Range Platform Hardware Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

As a Hardware Engineering Intern on the Long Range Platform Design Engineering team, you'll take ownership of real hardware challenges that directly impact the performance, reliability, and scalability of Zipline's long-range delivery system. You'll have the opportunity to take a project from understanding the problem and developing concepts through building, testing, and iterating on real hardware. Your work won't live on a shelf—you'll see how the decisions you make contribute to aircraft that operate every day and help Zipline expand access to essential goods around the world. Along the way, you'll work closely with experienced engineers and collaborate with teams across the company, learning how complex hardware goes from an idea to a reliable product operating at scale.

Responsibilities

• Own a focused hardware design project or root-cause investigation from problem definition through a tested solution.
• Develop mechanical and/or electrical designs using engineering fundamentals, CAD, and analysis.
• Build and iterate on prototypes, test fixtures, and hardware using hands-on fabrication and assembly.
• Design and run tests to characterize performance, investigate failures, and validate solutions.
• Analyze test data to identify root causes, evaluate tradeoffs, and make engineering decisions.
• Collaborate with experienced engineers across disciplines and learn how complex hardware is developed and deployed.
• Communicate your work through design reviews, test results, and technical documentation.

Requirements

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical 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 hardware problems.
• Experience building, testing, or troubleshooting physical systems through coursework, project teams, research, internships, or personal projects.
• Comfort working hands-on with prototypes, tools, test equipment, and basic fabrication or assembly.
• Ability to analyze data, identify likely root causes, and clearly communicate your reasoning.
• 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 hardware development environment.