Civil Engineering Intern (Spring 2026)

About Zipline

Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges by building the first instant logistics system that serves all humans equally. Leveraging expertise in robotics and autonomy, Zipline designs, builds, and operates a fleet of cutting edge, autonomous delivery drones. We serve tens of millions of people around the world.

Joining Zipline’s Emerging Talent program as an intern is an opportunity to contribute to our promise of building a system that provides equitable access to critical healthcare supplies for millions of people. We believe that internships are more than just opportunities to learn by watching or doing low level tasks. We expect our interns to take on meaningful work that actively contributes to moving Zipline’s mission forward, while learning real-world skills that will serve them in their careers for the long term. 

Join us, and build the future of logistics with the best humans around!

About The Ground Systems Deployment Team

The Deployment and Construction team is responsible for turning bare ground into functional drone charging sites! We’re a broad cross-functional team with skills across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and construction engineering with mandate to deliver world-class construction execution with zero issues in the first 30 days, on-time and on-budget, using scalable, cost-optimized, and serviceable designs.

The Role

As a Civil Engineering Intern on the Ground Systems Deployment team, you will be responsible for supporting the rolling out of our site infrastructure across multiple metros and paving the way imagining how the UAS world meets the built environment - not just for Zipline but for our customers and the industry as a whole. You will be involved in identifying and designing sites in order to get permits and approvals to build new Zipline sites.

You will be working with cross-functional teams such as Real Estate & Development, Go To Market, Systems Engineering, and Tower Engineering teams in order to make sure that the site layouts developed meet all of Zipline’s engineering and municipal code requirements.

This position is based out of our headquarters in South San Francisco.

What You'Ll Do

Site Selection, Feasibility & Risk:

• Perform feasibility and risk assessments for potential sites, including evaluation of environmental constraints, spatial limitations, geotechnical conditions, and constructability considerations.
• Develop and maintain a site plan database, consolidating multiple sites and design alternatives into a structured, accessible format to support cross-disciplinary engineering and planning teams in site evaluation and decision-making.

Site Design

• Coordinate with local jurisdictions and utility providers to obtain as-built drawings, subsurface utility information, and easement documentation critical for site design and permitting.
• Evaluate site feasibility for a permit-ready and constructible Zipline site design by coordinating floodplain analysis, local code and permitting requirements, equipment maneuverability, and geotechnical investigations.

Engineering Coordination

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams—including electrical, applications, service, and construction—to develop an integrated, permit-ready site plan that addresses all design, operational, and constructability requirements

What You'Ll Bring

• Minimum 3rd or 4th year of a bachelor degree program in Civil Engineering.
• Proficiency in Bluebeam and drafting software such as AutoCAD or Revit.
• Bonus: Experience working with building codes and developing site plans.
• Strong candidates should have excellent communications and problem solving skills.
• The individual will be based at Zipline’s headquarters in San Francisco, with possible travel to the DWF area in Texas.

What Else You Should Know

Our internships are full-time positions, in-person at our South San Francisco or Dallas office. We will host our Spring 2026 interns from January to April. 

The starting cash range for this internship is $38 - 42/ hour. 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, and working location. The total compensation package for each role may also include: a housing stipend; overtime pay; relocation support; paid sick time; 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!

Zipline is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your point of contact at Zipline know if you require any accommodations throughout your interview process.