Zipline · 23 hours ago
Head of System Modeling
South San Francisco, California, USA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$190K/yr - $230K/yr
10+ years expZipline is on a mission to transform logistics and solve access challenges through innovative technology. The Head of System Modeling will lead a team of engineers to develop and optimize physics-based models for aircraft and logistics systems, ensuring high-quality insights and operational efficiency.
DeliveryDronesElectric VehicleHome Health CareLogisticsRoboticsSupply Chain Management
Responsibilities
Lead a team of high-caliber engineers applying analytical skills at both the product architectural and fleet operations level
Guide and accelerate key decisions during many phases of engineering development and scaling
Challenge assumptions and requirements that drive cost and complexity
Pursue high-quality insights by improving validation processes and checking simulation results with independent hand calculations
Safeguard model inputs and identify weak assumptions based on data
Build and maintain models that connect product performance goals with hardware/software requirements
Optimize the operational efficiency of the Zipline fleet, impacting customer outcomes
Qualification
Required
Demonstrated experience building mathematical models and modeling frameworks, across languages, methods, and tools
Deep programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or Rust
An understanding of numerical methods
Strong convictions about the defining attributes of high-quality code tools
Demonstrated experience integrating simulation tools across platforms and software languages
A mastery of engineering and physics fundamentals: Energy and power, Dynamics (kinematics, forces, moments, acceleration/rotation), Fluids and aerodynamics, Heat transfer and thermodynamics
Experience in fleet-level simulations and optimization
Range Modeling
Throughput Modeling
Network Modeling
Fluency in system-level optimization
An ability to distill an open-ended topic into a rigorously framed problem statement
Familiarity with a variety of solution techniques, and the ability to identify an appropriate technique for a given problem
Comfort with empiricism
An ability to interpret complex datasets that span multiple physical realms
Experience designing test campaigns for model validation
Familiarity with practical considerations in embedded algorithm design
Excellent communication skills, particularly in distilling multidimensional solution spaces into straightforward insights
Demonstrated leadership attributes
Awareness of the most critical needs of the company, and motivation to seek out unsolved problems
An ability to drive progress on many projects at once, and to dynamically prioritize projects in a fast-evolving environment
Courage to make tough decisions in the face of imperfect information
Adherence to thorough and well-organized documentation
Patience to teach technical skills to others, while remaining open-minded to learning new skills yourself
Empathy and understanding for the people you work with
10 years related industry experience
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or similar discipline; MS strongly preferred
Benefits
Equity compensation
Discretionary annual or performance bonuses
Sales incentives
Benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance
Paid time off
And more
Company
Zipline
Zipline designs, manufactures, and operates drones to deliver vital medical products.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Zipline has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (54)
2024 (39)
2023 (29)
2022 (20)
2021 (16)
2020 (3)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.92BKey Investors
Tiger Global ManagementU.S. Department of StateScottish Mortgage Investment Trust
2026-01-21Series Unknown· $600M
2025-11-25Grant· $150M
2024-06-01Series G· $350M
Leadership Team
Keller Rinaudo Cliffton
Co-founder & CEO
Keenan Wyrobek
Founder, CTO and Product Architect
Recent News
2026-01-23
Company data provided by crunchbase