What You'll Do Act as the single technical owner for assigned electrical parts and supplier relationships (PCBAs, cables, harnesses, connectors) across prototype → qualification → volume production. Own technical decisions, risk acceptance, and supplier technical performance metrics. Define and enforce part-specific qualification criteria, inspection plans, control plans, acceptance criteria, and manufacturing data packages required for production release and flight qualification. Approve technical evidence before production sign-off. Drive supplier selection and capability assessments including on-site audits, capability gap remediation, process flow validation, and production-readiness reviews at supplier sites and at Zipline build/test sites. Develop and validate manufacturing and test processes with suppliers: process routings, work instructions, AOI/ICT/functional test strategies, and inline/outgoing sampling schemes to meet targeted yield and defect-rate goals. Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions for supplier defects using structured methods (8D, PFMEA, SPC). Own containment-to-permanent-fix lifecycle and verify supplier corrective actions at source. Define and track measurable supplier performance metrics (ppm, yield, process capability Cp/Cpk, on-time delivery %) and customer-impact KPIs tied to flight readiness and program schedule. Escalate and drive cross-functional remediation when metrics exceed thresholds. Partner daily with Design Engineering to improve manufacturability and testability (DFM/DFT), issue engineering changes, and close deviation reviews with traceable dispositioning. Manage multiple concurrent supplier industrialization projects; maintain technical records, risk logs, decision points, and open-action cadence to meet program delivery milestones. Travel routinely to supplier locations and Zipline sites to lead onboarding, qualification builds, failure investigations, and continuous improvement activities. Prepare and present technical status and risk assessments to program leads and stakeholders. What You'll Bring BS in Electrical, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience with 5+ years of experience in hands-on production environments. Proven, hands-on supplier industrialization or supplier quality experience with PCBAs, PCB fabrication/assembly, cable assemblies, and wire harnesses. Must have driven supplier qualification and production release for flight- or mission-critical hardware or similarly reliability-sensitive systems. Demonstrated track record owning supplier technical performance and delivering measurable improvements (example: reduced supplier defect ppm, improved Cp/Cpk, or shortened qualification lead time). Include concrete examples in application. Deep practical knowledge of electrical assembly manufacturing and test: SMT through-wave, through-hole repair, conformal coating, cable termination/crimping/overmolding, AOI, ICT, functional test, and fixture design for volume production. Familiarity with inspection and quality tools: FAI/PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, gauge R&R, process capability studies, SPC, and structured problem solving (8D, 5-Why). Ability to author and review manufacturing data packages and acceptance criteria. Able to read and drive changes to schematics, PCB/PCBA fabrication & assembly drawings, BOMs, and supplier documentation. Altium experience is a plus but not mandatory. Comfortable working in high-ambiguity, high-urgency environments where supplier fixes directly impact flight operations. Must be willing and able to travel to supplier and Zipline sites (~30–50% typical, configurable by program) and perform hands-on supplier engineering work onsite. Strong technical judgment, decisiveness, authoritative written and verbal communication with suppliers and senior stakeholders, and a bias to own issues to resolution. Location and Logistics This role is based in South San Francisco and onsite to support prototype builds, qualification, production launches, and issue resolution. Zipline sponsors work authorization when needed Success Metrics You’ll Be Measured Against Assigned electrical parts meet agreed qualification and acceptance criteria and are produced by suppliers at target yield and defect-rate limits supporting flight schedules. Supplier technical risks are identified early, tracked, and mitigated so program milestones and field reliability targets are met. Engineering documentation and supplier manufacturing data packages are complete, traceable, and enable predictable production handoffs. Supplier performance metrics are stable or improving (reduced ppm, improved Cp/Cpk, and reliable on-time delivery) and corrective actions are verified at source 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!
