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Software Engineer, Delivery Network Platform at Zipline · South…

ExperiencedOn-siteFull-timeSouth San Francisco, CA$170k–$210k/yr

Job Description

Software Engineer, Delivery Network Platform

At Zipline, we are building the operating system for an autonomous delivery network.

The Delivery Network Platform team builds the core systems that keep aircraft, sites, and infrastructure ready for live delivery operations. We create the software operators use to understand and control the network in real time, the orchestration systems that move the fleet through it, and the validation platforms that ensure the network behaves correctly as scale and complexity grow.

What you will own

You will own software in the critical path of fleet operations, including:

Network Operating Center software for real-time operational visibility and intervention across aircraft, sites, missions, weather, and demand
Fleet orchestration systems for assignment, routing, scheduling, and rebalancing
Maintenance and asset health systems that connect issue detection to return-to-service
Simulation and validation platforms that evaluate topology, load, and policy changes before they reach production
Platform interfaces and configurable control planes that let other teams extend the network safely

Hard problems, real ownership

Most software roles optimize digital experiences. This role helps run a live autonomous logistics network.

You will work on problems like:

maintaining a trustworthy real-time view of aircraft and critical site assets across the network
keeping the network moving when demand shifts, weather changes, infrastructure degrades, or capacity gets tight
building operator control surfaces that support fast, correct decisions under pressure
simulating future network behavior before production absorbs the risk

These are production systems with immediate operational consequences. You will own critical parts of the platform end to end, make technical and product decisions, and directly influence how the network performs.

How we work

This team operates with high ownership, high trust, and a high technical bar. Engineers are expected to identify important problems, form a clear view of how the system should work, and drive solutions from concept through production.

We also expect engineers to use AI tooling effectively as a force multiplier across exploration, implementation, and debugging, while maintaining strong engineering rigor, judgment, and accountability.

What you will bring

You are likely a strong fit if you:

have a track record of turning ambiguous, high-stakes systems problems into production software others rely on
combine strong systems judgment with product instinct and care about solving the real operational problem
can simplify complexity, define durable abstractions, and improve the architecture around you
care deeply about reliability, correctness, and operator trust
thrive in environments where software, operations, hardware, and product intersect
want to shape architecture and operating models, not just implement scoped features

This role is best suited to engineers who want to own critical systems, make consequential decisions, and shape how a real-world autonomous logistics network scales.

What Else You Need to Know

The starting cash range for this role is $170,000 - $210,000. 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; overtime pay; 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, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by state, federal or local law or our other policies.

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!