Supplier Industrialization Engineer

Company: Zipline
Location: South San Francisco
Posted on: April 1, 2026

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 Does the prospect of a society-altering challenge - transitioning a first-of-its-kind autonomous robotic system from prototype to volume manufacturing - sound like the type of work that gets you out of bed in the morning? Can you cut through the fog of multiple, competing priorities to focus on the most critical steps required to accomplish both immediate and long-term goals? Are you undeterred by the authority and responsibility that comes with a critical leadership position? If this excites you, you’re who we’re looking for! This is an in-person role based out of our HQ in South San Francisco requiring 40-60% traveling to and managing critical partners in Asia and North America. WHAT YOU'LL DO In this highly visible role, you will own component development qualification activities at suppliers and interact with Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, Integrated Planning, and Manufacturing Operations teams to scale Zipline’s manufacturing footprint. Plan, organize, direct and conduct industrialization related activities within the Design Engineering , Manufacturing, Material Planning, New Product Introduction (NPI) and Supply Chain teams. Participate in Supplier Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews, guide suppliers in efficient use of poka-yokes, best methods of gauging, and correct tools or assembly equipment to use. Provide feedback to Zipline Design teams to ensure alignment and incorporation of feedback during validation build phases and into mass production. Lead, track and improve Supplier manufacturing process development and launch readiness for design changes, new products and outsourcing initiatives. Lead and implement Supplier improvements in scalability, cost, and quality. Guide Suppliers in developing exceptionally robust processes and procedures to promote seamless and efficient production of high quality electrical components. Facilitate communication and clarification of technical requirements between Suppliers and Zipline’s Design, Internal Quality and Procurement teams. Collaborate with Zipline Design, Internal Quality and Manufacturing/NPI to determine ideal performance specifications and Supplier metrics. Drive improvements utilizing Lean methodologies, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and supplier scorecards. Own should-cost modelling and support GSM in pricing/negotiations. WHAT YOU'LL BRING You have worked for a minimum of 2-15 years in a fast paced and high growth environment as a Supplier Quality Engineer, Supplier Development Engineer, or Supplier Industrialization Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Process Engineering. You have successfully launched into volume production complex manufactured components and assemblies from prototype through mass production stages. You have actively participated in product design efforts and thus know what it takes to transition from prototype to volume production (CAD system experience like Nx, Catia, Solidworks is a bonus). You have implemented First Article Inspection criteria, PPAP requirements, and Supplier Quality Scorecard metrics You have worked with an established Quality System and applied it to improve your supply base (applicable standards are AS9100/ISO9001/IATF16949). You have achieved measurable results with implementing Product Quality Planning with part suppliers and contract manufacturers, both domestic and overseas (applicable examples are Advanced Product Quality Planning, Production Part Approval Process, Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, SPC) You can thrive in structured and unstructured environments and are not dissuaded at the prospect of making hard decisions about what is important and urgent against a backdrop of limited resources. Major Bonuses Advanced technical degree with experience developing new products, managing the transition from prototype to mass production, and creating order from chaos You are a first principles problem solving - you understand the value of methods such as 8D, 5-WHY, Pareto Charts and Fishbone Diagrams because you have achieved measurable results by using them and influencing others to do the same. Technical expertise in at least several of the following disciplines: PCBA Assembly, PCB Fabrication, Carbon Fiber/Composites, Machining/Casting/Extruded/Stamping, Motor Manufacturing (Lamination, Winding, Magnets, etc), Injection Molding, inspection fixture design, GD&T, metrology (CMM/OMM programming and inspection), manufacturing line setup , electro-mechanical assembly & testing etc Experience managing vendors in various geographies with a strong understanding of what manufacturing excellence looks like across a variety of processes. Demonstrated ability to walk into a new potential supplier and rapidly assess industrialization capability, reliability and quality, and safety You have a good understanding of and have successfully implemented the correct gated controls within a product development process and achieved the intended results. You have strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to drive aggressive timelines with key stakeholders internally and externally. What Else You Need to Know This role will require travel 30-60% of the time to critical external partners. The starting cash range for this role is $120,000 - $247,000. 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.

Keywords: Zipline, Ceres , Supplier Industrialization Engineer, Engineering , South San Francisco, California