Senior Firmware Engineer — Motors

Job overview

The Senior Firmware Engineer — Motors role is onsite in South San Francisco, CA, with a starting cash range of $170,000–$215,000 per year. Zipline operates an autonomous drone delivery system designed to provide access to food, medicine, and essential goods. The engineer designs and implements motor-controller firmware and control systems, validates software through bench and flight testing, and works with electrical, vehicle-controls, systems, and operations teams. The role contributes to the safety, reliability, and performance of Zipline’s autonomous logistics fleet.

What you'll do

• Design estimators and controllers for propulsion motors and actuators
• implement controllers in C++ for bare-metal ARM microcontrollers
• write peripheral drivers
• validate firmware on benches and in flight tests
• improve flight-software reliability and fault management
• build vehicle simulations in Rust
• validate inverter designs
• maintain automated fleet-performance monitoring systems.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

senior firmware engineer

motors

south san francisco ca

zipline

$170,000–$215,000/year

c++

rust

python

embedded systems

motor control

autonomous logistics

onsite

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• paid time off
• equity compensation and discretionary bonuses may be included in the total compensation package.

Why this role

Work spans embedded firmware, hardware-in-the-loop testing, flight testing, and fleet monitoring.

About the employer

Zipline is hiring for this role. Industry: Freight Transportation Arrangement. Sector: 48.