Technical Program Manager Intern (Spring 2027)

This is an internship role within Zipline's Program Management team, where the intern will work with engineers across disciplines to design, build, and test drones and ground infrastructure. The intern will help define program timelines, manage cross-functional teams, drive prototype and test activities, and report program updates to leadership. The role is based in South San Francisco and requires in-person attendance five days a week.

Responsibilities

• Understand and mitigate technical and program risks to keep Zipline’s future programs on track. Drive decision making and trade off studies.
• Define program timelines, milestones and critical path.
• Manage and support cross-functional teams across electrical and mechanical engineering, design validation, and embedded software domains to build and execute a plan to develop new hardware
• Drive prototype and test activities to validate next generation hardware designs
• Report program updates to leadership
• Manage new infrastructure builds for our test campaigns and track hardware sample allocations
• Organize and facilitate meetings with cross-functional teams
• Work closely with cross-functional groups to track incoming parts and quality
• Manage upcoming hardware changes to meet company targets

Requirements

• Must have at least completed the second year of your undergraduate studies or equivalent in Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering. Masters and PhD students are also eligible.
• Strong technical background
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain challenges and solutions to fellow engineers and non-engineers alike.
• Enthusiasm for collaborating in a fast paced and highly cross-functional environment
• Ability to pick up technical concepts rapidly
• Ability to drive clarity amidst chaos and ambiguity
• Extreme ownership and a bias for action
• Must be eligible to work in the US
• Demonstrated skill in aligning priorities, coordinating timelines, and leading complex scope, resource, and schedule trades
• Must be able to work in person at Zipline’s South San Francisco office 5 days a week