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Zipline is the world's largest autonomous drone delivery service, operating on four continents and completing millions of deliveries of blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products. The company has flown over 140 million commercial autonomous miles and is expanding its delivery network into increasingly complex airspaces and markets globally.
You will lead Zipline's airspace integration policy strategy and regulatory affairs function, defining how the company's autonomous systems safely and predictably integrate with crewed aircraft, other UAS, and advanced aviation systems including AAM and eVTOLs. This is a strategic leadership role shaping the evolution of industry standards and regulatory frameworks that enable scaled drone operations worldwide.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and implementing Zipline's airspace integration strategy, including deconfliction, remote identification, and detection/avoidance systems
- Leading policy strategy for RF deconfliction, spectrum coexistence, command-and-control links, and vehicle-to-vehicle communications
- Directing engagement on electronic conspicuity, ADS-B, Remote Identification, transponder requirements, and airspace visibility systems
- Converting FAA and spectrum regulatory requirements into practical compliance, certification, and deployment roadmaps
- Representing Zipline in industry forums including FAA working groups, ASTM F38, RTCA, JARUS, and GUTMA
- Leading engagement with FAA on Part 108, Part 146, and Section 2209 implementation, plus engagement with international civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers
- Responding to government consultations, notices of proposed rulemakings, and regulatory proceedings on airspace integration, spectrum, UTM, and related topics
- Converting Zipline's operational experience and technical capabilities into credible contributions to standards and industry consensus
- Advising leadership on emerging regulatory requirements, technical dependencies, approval risks, and policy decisions affecting long-term roadmap
REQUIREMENTS:
- 10+ years of experience in air traffic management, aviation systems, UAS operations, aviation regulation, UTM, spectrum policy, standards development, or related field
- Track record of designing, deploying, operating, regulating, or materially shaping complex airspace-integration systems for UAS or AAM
- Experience with advanced aviation or eVTOL airspace integration, AAM operating concepts, NextGen air traffic-management programs, or comparable efforts to integrate new aircraft into existing aviation systems
- Experience in FCC and aviation spectrum issues affecting UAS, including C2 and CNPC links, 5030–5091 MHz band, RF interference and coexistence, equipment authorization, UWB, cellular or satellite communications, and related regulatory proceedings
- Demonstrated leadership or substantive technical participation in international aviation standards and policy forums such as ICAO, JARUS, ASTM F38, RTCA, GUTMA, or comparable organizations
- Trusted relationships with civil aviation authorities policy and rulemaking leadership, air navigation service providers, standards organizations, UAS operators, and UTM service providers
- Experience working in both government and industry, with judgment to reconcile regulator, operator, service-provider, and public interests
- Technical fluency sufficient to engage with subject matter experts on RF and spectrum issues, interoperability requirements, electronic conspicuity, ADS-B, UTM, safety cases, and engineering tradeoffs
- Demonstrated ability to influence across organizational boundaries and convert complex technical, regulatory, and operational issues into concise leadership recommendations
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to represent Zipline credibly in technical standards, regulatory, and executive forums
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, computer science, aviation, air traffic management, public policy, or related field
- Based in or willing to work from South San Francisco, California, with regular travel for regulatory engagements, standards meetings, industry convenings, and operational sites
Helpful experience includes production UAS operations, autonomous systems, BVLOS approvals, Part 135 operations, large-scale logistics and mobility networks, safety case development, assurance frameworks, operational concepts, and certification evidence for high-reliability systems.
