Flight Test Operator - Esparto,CA

About You and The Role 

You are a hands-on Flight Test Operator focused on executing high-volume flight testing that proves the safety, reliability, and operational readiness of Zipline’s aircraft and delivery systems. You will conduct repeatable flight operations across a wide range of mission profiles, environmental conditions, and system configurations to identify failure modes, validate performance, and build confidence in the system at scale. You’ll work at Zipline’s test site(s) and coordinate closely with reliability engineering, software, hardware, safety, maintenance, manufacturing, and field operations to turn test results into measurable improvements in system performance. This role matters because disciplined, high-volume testing exposes risks before they reach customers, strengthens the safety case for our technology, and directly improves the reliability of every delivery.

What You'll Do 

• Own end-to-end daily flight test campaign execution - Acting as Remote Pilot in Command for Zipline’s Autonomous Aircraft - executing high-volume mission profiles, reliability testing, regression testing, and fault injection testing
• Validate system performance through repeatable ground and flight test procedures across varied operating conditions
• Troubleshoot and repair software and hardware issues on-site to safely and efficiently return aircraft to flight
• Summarize test results: provide qualitative and quantitative analysis on aircraft and system performance - comparing results to expected outcomes, reliability targets, and safety requirements
• Escalate flight performance anomalies, recurring failures, and emerging safety risks to engineering and safety, driving discussion towards containment and resolution
• Enforce and improve site safety: manage risks during high-tempo flight operations, run briefings and debriefs, identify operational hazards, and refine SOPs to prevent repeat failures
• Support continuous improvement of test operations by identifying opportunities to increase throughput, consistency, data quality, and operational efficiency without compromising safety
• Location & schedule: This role is onsite at a Zipline test site (outdoor/field conditions). Expect to work weekends, night and overnight shifts, and occasional regional travel between test sites when required.

What You'll Bring

• FAA Part 107 certification (required at time of joining)
• Experience piloting drones or manned aircraft
• Demonstrated aeronautical decision making and accountability: experience owning go/no-go decisions, creating preflight checklists, and escalating safety incidents with clear documentation
• Operational intensity and logistics: Comfortable working in high-tempo, failure-heavy field environments where consistent execution, rapid diagnostics, and repairs under time pressure are routine; able to lift and move 50+ lb equipment and work outdoors for multi-hour test windows
• Ownership and communication: Proven ability to own test campaigns end-to-end, maintain high standards across repetitive operations, make safety-forward go/no-go decisions, document results clearly, and coordinate across engineering, safety, maintenance, and manufacturing to drive closure
• Safety and reliability mindset: Able to recognize trends across repeated operations, identify emerging risks, and maintain attention to detail during high-volume testing
• Nice-to-have: Linux command-line comfort, experience with reliability or endurance testing, basic mechanical or electrical troubleshooting skills, and experience with automated flight systems

What Else You Need To Know

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!