Supplier Industrialization Engineer (Mechanical & Top-Level Assembly)

About Zipline

Zipline’s mission is to provide every human on Earth with instant access to vital medical supplies. We believe that where you live should never dictate whether you live. We are at the forefront of a logistics revolution, using autonomous aircraft to deliver just-in-time, life-saving medical supplies at national scale in several countries and expanding around the world. Are you interested in building a system that 500 million people will depend on with their lives?

About the Role

As a Supplier Industrialization Engineer (SIE) specializing in Mechanical and Top-Level Assembly (TLA), you will play a critical role in scaling Zipline’s manufacturing supply chain from prototype to full-scale production. You will act as a technical partner within the hardware team, ensuring that DFM/DFA principles are embedded upfront in the design process, while also coordinating with suppliers to integrate their manufacturing expertise into part and assembly designs.

You will lead supplier selection, process optimization, automation, and quality assurance for critical mechanical and electromechanical components, with expertise in steel welding & fabrication, motors, magnetics, thermal systems, carbon fiber, wire harnesses, injection molding, or cameras. Your focus will be on ensuring scalable, high-quality manufacturing processes for complex assemblies, such as precision-machined parts, composite structures, molded plastics, castings, and welded enclosures. This high-impact role is essential to expanding production capacity while upholding world-class quality standards.

What You’ll Do

Supplier Development & Selection

• Audit and qualify mechanical and assembly suppliers globally to ensure they meet process capability, quality, and capacity requirements.
• Conduct detailed manufacturing capability assessments, evaluating supplier expertise in machining, injection molding, stamping and carbon fiber molding, welding, casting, motor winding, battery pack assembly, and automation.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to define supplier selection criteria, ensuring design, manufacturability, and production scalability are fully aligned.
• Develop, train, and mentor suppliers to drive continuous process improvement, with a focus on achieving consistent quality and zero-defect manufacturing.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure supplier compliance with ISO9001, AS9100, IATF16949, and other applicable industry standards for mechanical and electromechanical components.
• Implement and lead pFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) to proactively identify and mitigate risks in high-precision manufacturing, welding, and assembly.
• Conduct Design of Experiments (DOE) and Gage R&R studies to validate process repeatability, precision machining tolerances, and measurement system accuracy.
• Utilize data analytics tools (JMP, Minitab, R, etc.) to monitor supplier quality trends, detect process anomalies, and drive continuous improvements in welding, molding, assembly, and automation.
• Deploy Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate defects, improve efficiency, and enhance supplier process controls for motors, thermal systems, and composite structures.

Process Optimization & Manufacturing Readiness

• Work closely with Engineering to embed DFM/DFA best practices early in the design process, ensuring structural integrity, manufacturability, and ease of assembly.
• Develop process flow diagrams to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and automation opportunities, optimizing welding, injection molding, wire harness assembly, and electromechanical component integration.
• Lead the development of semi-automated and fully automated manufacturing processes, focusing on precision welding, composite fabrication, and camera system integration.
• Optimize key manufacturing processes, including tolerance stack-up analysis, thermal system efficiency, fixture design for welding and molding, and precision assembly techniques.
• Implement automated End-of-Line (EOL) test strategies for motors, wire harnesses, and mechanical assemblies, ensuring repeatability and high-quality production.
• Integrate automation and robotics into supplier manufacturing processes, improving cost efficiency, production scalability, and yield optimization.

What You’ll Bring

✅ 6+ years of experience in Supplier Industrialization, Supplier Quality, or Manufacturing Engineering, specializing in mechanical and electromechanical components.

✅ Expertise in steel welding & fabrication, motors, magnetics, thermal systems, carbon fiber, wire harnesses, injection molding, or cameras.

✅ Hands-on experience with precision machining, die casting, stamping, composite fabrication, and automated assembly.

✅ Ability to collaborate with design engineers, ensuring DFM/DFA best practices early in design.

✅ Experience in supplier audits, APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, SPC, and supplier selection & monitoring for mechanical & electromechanical components.

✅ Strong background in automation & robotics, focusing on semi-automated and fully automated production.

✅ Expertise in developing test & inspection strategies, including automated End-of-Line (EOL) testing for motors, cameras, & wire harnesses.

✅ Proficient in GD&T and its application in precision manufacturing & assembly.

✅ Data-driven, using JMP, Minitab, R, or similar tools for process performance tracking & improvement.

✅ Strong problem-solving skills, using 8D, 5-Whys, Pareto analysis, & Fishbone diagrams to drive supplier quality improvements.

✅ Exceptional communication & leadership skills, influencing suppliers & internal teams to adopt best-in-class manufacturing practices.

Why Join Zipline?

At Zipline, we’re pioneering the future of logistics with cutting-edge autonomous technology that saves lives. As a Supplier Industrialization Engineer, you will have a direct impact on scaling our mechanical manufacturing processes, ensuring that we can deliver high-quality products at scale.

If you thrive in dynamic, hands-on environments, love solving complex manufacturing challenges, and are excited to drive innovation in supplier development, we want to hear from you! 🚀

What else you need to know

This role is an in-person role, based out of our South San Francisco HQ. Must be eligible to work in the US and travel globally 50-60% of the time as needed. The starting cash range for this role is $130,000 - $190,000. 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, 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!