Strategic Operations Internship, Zipline
Data & Tooling, Summer 2026
$32 - 36/ hour
May offer relocation support
3-5 days a week in office (South San Francisco, CA)
Transforming the way goods move
Be an early applicant
Transforming the way goods move
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$32 - 36/ hour
May offer relocation support
3-5 days a week in office (South San Francisco, CA)
1001+ employees
Company mission
To build the world's first logistics system that serves all people equally.
Role
Who you are
- If you love turning ambiguous operational problems into elegant technical systems, this role is for you
- Experience working with SQL and at least one programming language (Python strongly preferred)
- Exposure to data modeling, ETL, or analytics engineering concepts
- Ability to translate operational needs into clean technical solutions—and iterate quickly as you gather feedback
- Comfort working with messy, real-world data and ambiguity
- Strong problem-solving skills and an inclination toward automation over manual work
- Experience building small internal tools, scripts, or dashboards in past projects, coursework, or internships
- Excitement for learning how software, data, and operations intersect in a real production environment
- Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field
Desirable
- Experience with Snowflake, dbt, or similar pipeline tools
- Familiarity with web app frameworks (Flask, FastAPI, React)
- Previous exposure to operations, logistics, or robotics environments
What the job involves
- The Strategic Operations team exists to drive clarity, speed, and scale across Platform 2
- We are the operating system behind Platform 2 — breaking through blockers, building systems that last, and delivering measurable results. Without us, things stall; with us, things accelerate
- As Zipline enters a period of hyper-scale, Strategic Operations is the backbone enabling this growth. We are a small, high-leverage team that sees around corners and builds the foundation for scale
- This role will work closely with Business Operations, Data Platform, Application Software, and Site Operations to ensure the entire Operations organization has the data models, internal tools, and automation required to meet Zipline’s scaling ambitions
- As a Strategic Operations Intern – Data & Tooling, you will build the technical infrastructure that helps Zipline scale its drone delivery network
- You’ll drive requirements for data models, automate operational workflows, and develop lightweight internal tools that give our teams clearer visibility and faster decision-making
- This is a hybrid role at the intersection of software, data, and operations. You’ll work with real production data, partner with cross-functional teams, and build tools that directly influence how our delivery network grows and performs
- Streamline and document core data models that support forecasting, operational performance measurement, and site-level decision-making - ensuring all the necessary data is accessible and well defined
- Develop internal tools and scripts (e.g., Python, SQL, web dashboards) that automate manual workflows and improve operational efficiency
- Partner with Data Platform to productionize new pipelines or enhance existing ones to ensure data quality, reliability, and scalability
- Work with Business Operations , Maintenance, and Site Ops to deeply understand operational pain points and translate them into technical requirements
- Prototype and test new tooling solutions—everything from simplified UIs to backend automation to new analytical frameworks
- Create dashboards and analytics artifacts (Mode, ThoughtSpot, Looker) to drive better visibility into fleet performance, throughput, and scaling constraints
Application process
- We will host our Summer 2026 interns from May or June to August
- Candidates are limited to three (3) applications within a 30-day period
Our take
Zipline is reinventing how the world moves goods - one flight at a time. What started as a bold idea to deliver life-saving medical supplies by drones has grown into the world's first logistics network designed to serve everyone, everywhere. From rushing blood and vaccines to remote clinics, to dropping off everyday essential for Walmart customers, Ziplines's autonomous drones are proving that fast, reliable delivery doesn't have to be limited by roads or geography.
Zipline has an edge over potential future competitors as the company has thousands of hours and over 35 million miles of flight to prove the system is safe and effective. It’s also one of the first companies to receive a full commercial operating certificate, putting Zipline in a strong position to continuously branch out to other markets.
The unicorn company operates globally and has signed its first government contract with Rwanda to provide up to 2 million drone deliveries by 2029. Beyond government partnerships, Zipline has its sight set on everyday consumers, preparing to launch commercial deliveries straight to individuals houses. With its Walmart collaboration expanding and even Chipotle orders taking to the skies in Texas, Zipline isn't just redefining delivery - it's aiming to reach every corner of commerce, with a future that looks as bright as its ambitions.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
34% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 9 rounds)
Nov 2025
$150m
GRANT
Apr 2023
$330m
SERIES F
Total funding: $963.7m
Company HQ
South San Francisco, CA
Leadership
Keller Rinaudo Cliffton
(Co-Founder & CEO)Having studied Economics and Biotechnology at Harvard, they worked for almost 11 months as a self-employed rock climber. They combined their academic and practical experience to co-found Zipline in July 2011.
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