Director of Embedded Software at Zipline

Zipline is building the world’s first instant delivery and logistics system that serves every person equally, no matter where they live. Our autonomous aircraft already power national blood-delivery networks in Rwanda, support COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Ghana, and enable on-demand home delivery for major retailers such as Walmart. By combining robotics, autonomy, and rigorous safety engineering, we are cutting carbon emissions, easing road congestion, and creating a more resilient global supply chain. We are now looking for a Director of Embedded Software to guide the teams that write the code running on our aircraft, ground systems, and test hardware.

Key outcomes

• Lead, mentor, and scale multiple teams of embedded engineers and engineering managers, setting ambitious goals while sustaining a culture of technical excellence and rapid iteration.
• Define and champion system-level architecture for safety-critical hardware spanning flight computers, radios, battery-management units, motor controllers, and communication buses.
• Establish rigorous development practices-code review, documentation, and testing-that keep software reliable in demanding environments around the globe.
• Align embedded-software strategy with avionics, systems, and test-engineering leaders to deliver a cohesive, high-performance product.
• Drive adoption of radically simple designs and a bias-to-action mindset across the embedded organization.

Requirements

• Proven success as a “lead-of-leads,” having hired, inspired, and grown high-performing embedded-software teams that delivered world-first safety-critical systems.
• Deep technical expertise in embedded software, demonstrated through architectural contributions on complex hardware platforms.
• Hands-on fluency with Rust and C++ for onboard systems and Python for tooling and test infrastructure.
• Strong communication skills that allow you to translate technical trade-offs for both engineering peers and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Full professional proficiency in English.

Compensation

The starting cash compensation for this role is $200,000 – $300,000. In addition to base salary, the total package includes equity, potential performance bonuses, medical, dental and vision insurance, and paid time off.

How to apply

If this opportunity to shape the embedded backbone of a life-saving logistics platform resonates with you, we invite you to submit your application. We value diverse perspectives and encourage all qualified candidates to apply.