Autonomy Lead - Motion Planning at Zipline

At Zipline, we are on a mission to revolutionize how goods move across the globe. We build and operate the world’s first instant logistics system, designed to serve everyone equally, regardless of their location. From delivering life-saving blood and vaccines in Rwanda and Ghana to providing on-demand home delivery for partners like Walmart, we are creating a more resilient and equitable supply chain. Our technology combines advanced robotics and autonomy to reduce road congestion, lower emissions, and provide essential access to healthcare and consumer goods. We are looking for an Autonomy Lead for our Motion Planning team to help us scale these operations and build the future of autonomous delivery.

Key outcomes

• Lead the motion planning team in developing sophisticated detect and avoid capabilities for our fleet of autonomous aircraft.
• Collaborate with autonomy leadership to define detection requirements for our onboard vision and acoustic systems.
• Optimize path planning algorithms to enhance energy efficiency and reduce flight times for our logistics networks.
• Utilize HIL and SIL testing environments to rigorously validate and refine planning algorithms.
• Oversee team growth by creating hiring plans, conducting interviews, and performing regular reviews.
• Analyze real-world flight logs and large-scale simulation data to ensure the safety and effectiveness of our systems.
• Provide technical mentorship and direction to junior engineers to foster a high-performing team.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of professional experience, including 2 or more years in a leadership role, developing software for safety-critical hardware such as robotics, aerospace, or autonomous vehicles.
• Expertise in writing production-level, safety-critical code using Rust, C++, or C.
• Proven technical leadership in deploying software for complex autonomous systems that operate in real-world environments.
• Strong knowledge of planning and search algorithms, with practical industry experience in robotics or autonomous driving.
• Proficiency in building and utilizing simulation and data analysis tools to evaluate system performance.
• Experience managing the complexities of real-world robotics to ensure high system uptime and reliability.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build strong relationships across internal and external teams.
• Fluency in English.

Compensation

The starting cash range for this full-time, on-site position is $190,000 - $230,000. The final offer will be determined based on your unique qualifications, experience, and location. In addition to base pay, our total compensation package includes equity compensation, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and paid time off.

How to apply

If you are passionate about solving complex engineering challenges and want to help us build a more equitable global supply chain, we encourage you to apply. We value diverse perspectives and invite you to join our team even if you do not meet every single requirement listed above.