Mechanical Design Engineer - Towers
Zipline · South San Francisco, California, USA
Posted 13 days ago · $130,000 - $186,000
or apply directly on Zipline 's site. We never take the application ourselves.
Is this posting real?
- This role has been open
- 13 days Zipline 's roles stay open a median of 42 days
- Reposted
- No
- Salary listed
- Yes 51% of Zipline 's roles list one
- Ghost-job risk at Zipline
- low 0 stale, 6 reposted of 342 open
- Hiring momentum
- 454 roles opened in the last 90 days ↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
- Last confirmed on the employer's board
- 2026-09-17
Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Zipline 's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Zipline .
About this role
As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Zipline, you will focus on developing innovative designs for large steel towers that support drone delivery systems. Your role involves owning the design of complex subassemblies, integrating mechanisms and electronics, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful production. You will leverage engineering fundamentals and problem-solving skills to create reliable products under tight timelines.
- benefits
- 3/5
- freshness
- 4/5
- career value
- 4/5
- role clarity
- 5/5
- pay transparency
- 5/5
Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Zipline as an employer.
What you need
- Proven track record owning complex subassemblies or full systems over at least 3 product programs (concept, prototype, validation, production)
- Strong fundamentals: load estimation, classic mechanics, structural hand calcs to guide part sizing, FEA and clean CAD designs
- Excellent problem solving - tenacious and scientific approach
- Familiarity with mechanism design and the integration of electrical components into hardware products
- Practical knowledge of manufacturing methods such as welding, sheetmetal forming, extrusion, CNC machining
- Experience partnering with contract manufacturers to ramp up production of high volume lines
Nice to have
- NX is your primary CAD tool
- Knowledge in applying appropriate FOS and margin to human safety critical application (design margin tables, structural joint calculations)
- Hands-on welding experience for prototyping
What you get
- Starting cash range of $130,000 - $186,000
- Equity compensation
- Discretionary annual or performance bonuses
- Sales incentives
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Paid time off
Worth weighing
- Final cash pay depends on various factors including experience and location
- Role involves significant responsibility with high autonomy and little direction
- Physical scale of projects can be large, requiring comfort with complex systems
Summarised from Zipline 's posting. Read the full original.
Listed by Zipline on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-09-17. PitchMeAI is not the employer.
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