---
title: 'Senior/Staff Systems Modeling Engineer, Electric Propulsion at Zipline'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-staff-systems-modeling-engineer-electric-propulsion-zipline-south-san-xvtyrwb7gcss'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-06'
---

# Senior/Staff Systems Modeling Engineer, Electric Propulsion at Zipline 

- **Company:** Zipline 
- **Location:** South San Francisco California, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-09-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06
- **Apply:** https://www.zipline.com/open-roles/7987592003?gh_jid=7987592003

## Job description

## 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 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.

## About You and The Role

You will be part of Zipline's Systems Modeling Team, which develops physics-based models used to architect, optimize, and validate Zipline's aircraft hardware and operational systems. The team works across electric propulsion, batteries, thermal systems, controls, aerodynamics, electrical engineering, and fleet operations to guide key engineering and product decisions.

In this technical leadership role, you will own and advance Zipline’s electric propulsion modeling capability across motors, inverters, gearboxes and propellers. You will help define the technical roadmap and make architecture, sizing, and design decisions across current and future aircraft programs. You will drive the complete lifecycle, from first-principles model development through experimental characterization, validation, software deployment, and continuous improvement using laboratory and flight data.

The scope of this role extends beyond component-level physics to integrated aircraft and fleet behavior. You will connect propulsion performance, efficiency, thermal limits, acoustics, and reliability to system-level outcomes including aircraft range, payload and mission capability, energy consumption, operational throughput and cost per delivery.

## What You'll Do

- Own the electric-propulsion modeling roadmap, framework, validation standards, and deployment of validated models across aircraft programs.
- Lead trade studies that inform propulsion architecture, sizing, operating limits, thermal management, control strategies, and performance optimization.
- Develop and validate physics-based models of electric propulsion systems across multiple levels of fidelity, supporting aircraft simulation, hardware design, controls development, and fleet operations.
- Design and lead characterization campaigns for parameter identification and model validation, defining test requirements, instrumentation, and procedures for dynamometer, thrust stand, wind tunnel, and thermal testing.
- Build and own clean, modular, object-oriented modeling frameworks and engineering tools that are maintainable, reusable, and scalable across aircraft programs.
- Continuously improve model fidelity by comparing predictions against laboratory testing and production flight data, identifying model deficiencies, and deploying validated improvements that increase predictive accuracy across the fleet.
- Partner closely with electrical, mechanical, thermal, controls, flight test, manufacturing, and fleet operations teams to translate modeling insights into better products and engineering decisions.

## What You'll Bring

- 8+ years of industry experience developing and validating physics-based models for electric powertrains, aerospace systems, electric vehicles, robotics, or other complex electro-mechanical systems.
- Strong heat-transfer fundamentals and experience building, parameterizing, and validating lumped-parameter thermal networks for electric machines or power electronics.
- Track record of using quantitative analysis and modeling to drive engineering decisions, including design trade studies, operating limits, performance optimization, or system architecture decisions.
- Demonstrated ability to design experimental characterization campaigns for parameter identification and model validation, including defining test plans, instrumentation, and measurement requirements.
- Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, Julia, Rust, or similar languages, with experience developing clean, modular, object-oriented engineering code and reusable modeling frameworks.
- Solid foundation in numerical methods, optimization, controls, and engineering model validation.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional engineering decisions through quantitative analysis.
- Ability and willingness to work onsite with cross-functional engineering teams. This role requires regular hands-on collaboration with hardware, testing, and flight operations.

## Preferred Qualifications

- M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- Familiarity with motor and inverter loss mechanisms and modeling approaches.
- Experience using high-fidelity electromagnetic and thermal simulation tools such as ANSYS Motor-CAD, ANSYS Maxwell, JMAG, COMSOL, ANSYS Icepak, or similar.
- Familiarity with production telemetry, fleet operations, or hardware test data for engineering model validation and continuous improvement.

What Else You Need To Know

The starting salary range for this role is $180,000 - $255,000. 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! Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Zipline ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

## About Zipline 

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Zipline is an American robotics company that operates the world’s largest autonomous drone delivery service, transporting medical supplies, food, and retail goods across multiple continents.
- **Entity Type**: Private (early-stage startup)
- **Headquarters**: South San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: March 2014
- **Founders**: Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, Keenan Wyrobek, Ryan Oksenhorn, William Hetzler

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Logistics / Drone delivery
- **Target customers**: B2B (healthcare systems, governments, retailers like Walmart and Chipotle) and B2C (home delivery via the Zipline app)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “Build the first logistics system that serves all people equally” – initially focused on saving lives by delivering blood and medicine to remote communities, now expanded to instant urban delivery.

## Products & Services
- **Platform 1 (P1)**: Long-range, rural delivery drone. Carries up to 4 lbs, roundtrip range 120+ miles, cruise speed 60 mph. Uses parachute delivery. Designed for enterprise, government, and healthcare supply chains.
- **Platform 2 (P2)**: Urban/suburban home delivery drone. Carries up to 8 lbs, service radius 10 miles (or 24 miles one way), cruise speed 70 mph. Delivers via a tether from up to 300 ft, allowing contactless drop-off. Launched in 2025 and used for food, retail, and health products.
- **Zipping Points**: Modular ground stations that allow businesses to load orders onto drones without specialized equipment.
- **FlightIQ**: Advanced onboard autonomy and perception suite for safe navigation and delivery.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available
- **Key Metric**: 2 million commercial deliveries completed (as of January 2026) and 130 million autonomous miles flown.[wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zipline_(drone_delivery_company))[zipline-fact-sheet](https://www.zipline.com/about/zipline-fact-sheet)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not disclosed in available sources. Key partners include Walmart, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Crumbl, Blaze Pizza, Wendy’s, and many other restaurant brands. In healthcare, works with more than 5,000 hospitals and health centers.
- **Growth Signals**: Expanded into urban home delivery in 2025 (P2) with service in Pea Ridge, Arkansas and 20+ communities in Dallas-Fort Worth. Obtained FAA authorization for beyond visual line of sight operations. Reports 56% decrease in maternal mortality and 66% decrease in missed malaria treatments in served regions.[zipline-fact-sheet](https://www.zipline.com/about/zipline-fact-sheet)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Autonomous drone fleet**: One of the world’s largest commercial deployments of autonomous robots, with custom software running on Nvidia chips.
- **FAA approval**: All operations and aircraft are FAA-approved, including pioneering use of Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM).
- **Quieter than road vehicles**: Drones hover high and descend on a tether, generating noise lower than common neighborhood sounds.
- **Extensive testing**: One of the largest aviation testing campaigns, with operations in rain, wind, and storms.
- **Integrated logistics platform**: Beyond drones, Zipline provides warehousing, inventory management, cold chain storage, and fulfillment software.

## Strategic Focus
- Scaling the Platform 2 urban delivery network across the U.S., particularly through partnerships with major retailers and restaurants.
- Deepening healthcare impact by expanding into new countries and product categories (prescriptions, groceries, convenience items).
- Continuing to reduce delivery times and environmental footprint (0 emissions per delivery, compared to automotive delivery).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture values**: Ownership & Accountability, Direct Feedback & Communication, Continuous Improvement, Customer Obsession, Servant Leadership (as stated on careers page). Emphasis on “Make it matter” and mission-driven work.[careers](https://www.zipline.com/careers)
- **Work environment**: Headquartered in South San Francisco with hardware and software teams. The company assembles its drones in America. Likely on-site given the hardware focus; remote/hybrid policy not explicitly stated.
- **Impact**: Opportunity to work on life-saving technology (60,000+ lives saved) and shape the future of instant logistics.
- **Engineering culture**: Build and iterate on autonomous systems, airspace deconfliction, and large-scale robotics deployments.

## Sources
1. [Zipline Careers](https://www.zipline.com/careers)
2. [Zipline Homepage](https://www.zipline.com/)
3. [About Zipline](https://www.zipline.com/about)
4. [Zipline Fact Sheet](https://www.zipline.com/about/zipline-fact-sheet)
5. [Wikipedia - Zipline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zipline_(drone_delivery_company))
6. [Greenhouse Careers Page](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/flyzipline)

## Other roles at Zipline 

- [Aircraft Software Integration Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/aircraft-software-integration-intern-summer-2027-zipline-south-san-francisco-qzhqteyn3z8h) — South San Francisco California, United States
- [Aircraft Software Integration Intern (Spring 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/aircraft-software-integration-intern-spring-2027-zipline-south-san-francisco-869y0r4pmkrj) — South San Francisco California, United States
- [People Partner](https://feeny.ai/job/people-partner-zipline-kigali-xhgqah3xea2d) — Kigali, Rwanda
- [Concept and Architecture Engineering Contractor](https://feeny.ai/job/concept-and-architecture-engineering-contractor-zipline-south-san-francisco-ttns1vrthcc8) — South San Francisco California, United States
- [Mechanical Design Engineer - Towers](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-design-engineer-towers-zipline-south-san-francisco-california-tcdm0q3t7ex4) — South San Francisco California, United States
- [Director of Industry Standards](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-industry-standards-zipline-south-san-francisco-california-xfmf6syhmfnh) — South San Francisco California, United States
- [Flight Test Site Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-test-site-lead-zipline-amarillo-texas-yjcn58g0gb1v) — Amarillo Texas, United States
- [Flight Test Operator](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-test-operator-zipline-amarillo-texas-j156mq0pv54x) — Amarillo Texas, United States
- [Launch & Scale Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/launch-scale-intern-summer-2027-zipline-south-san-francisco-california-kmcdb5709dg3) — South San Francisco California, United States
- [Launch & Scale Intern (Spring 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/launch-scale-intern-spring-2027-zipline-south-san-francisco-california-nz5kq309yceb) — South San Francisco California, United States