Head of Application Software, Zipline
Platform 1
More information about location
4+ days a week in office
Transforming the way goods move
Be an early applicant
Transforming the way goods move
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
More information about location
4+ days a week in office
1001+ employees
Company mission
To build the world's first logistics system that serves all people equally.
Role
Who you are
- Entrepreneurial mindset: Able to wear many hats, keep a team focused on what matters, drive the product roadmap, and act as an owner of a core pillar of the business
- Leadership experience: 10+ years building and maintaining distributed, mission-critical full-stack applications, including 3+ years leading multidisciplinary teams. Proven success hiring, mentoring, and developing diverse, distributed engineers while fostering accountability and autonomy across geographies
- Depth across modern application stacks: Strong grounding in full stack software development (e.g. Python, Go, React, Angular), with experience integrating ERP platforms (e.g. Odoo) within complex business environments
- Data and platform engineering fluency: Expertise in database and system fundamentals including schema design, migrations, indexing, and performance optimization. Familiar with modern DevOps practices, version control and CI/CD pipelines
- Architectural judgement: Ability to design for scale and reliability, knowing when to build from first principles versus extend existing platforms
- Operational & Cross-Functional Empathy: Deep understanding of how real users and operators interact with complex systems, and the ability to translate between technical, manufacturing, and operational needs. Skilled at simplifying workflows and aligning diverse teams without losing capability or rigor
- Data-informed judgment and bias for execution: Combines analytical rigor with practical intuition. Uses data and observability to guide decisions, while knowing when speed, context, and engineering judgment matter most. Operates with clarity under uncertainty and delivers meaningful results
- 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!
What the job involves
- Zipline’s Application Software team builds and maintains the software systems that power every part of the our lifesaving delivery business in Africa, from the factory floor to ordering apps, to fulfillment and air traffic control tools
- This team is responsible for the operating system of Platform 1’s global operations: the critical applications that manage hardware production, inventory, and maintenance; enable data-driven decision-making; and orchestrate fulfillment, flight, and delivery at scale
- We connect every corner of the business through software, ensuring Zipline can operate efficiently, intelligently, and globally
- As Head of Application Software, you’ll lead the global strategy and execution of these systems — the digital backbone of the world’s largest autonomous delivery platform
- You’ll partner closely with Systems and Embedded Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Business teams to build scalable, cost-effective, and resilient applications that enable Zipline to deliver without fail
- If you’ve led diverse, distributed engineering teams responsible for critical workflows that bridge the physical and digital worlds — and you’re motivated by building systems that directly impact lives — this is your opportunity to shape the future of global logistics software
- Strategic Leadership: Own the architectural direction and software roadmap for Platform 1 applications, ensuring scalable systems that power operations across geographies and business models. Align software strategy with company goals while optimizing for reliability, efficiency, and user experience
- Hands-on Technical Leadership: Stay close to the work. Lead architectural reviews, uphold resiliency and reliability standards for mission-critical workflows, and evaluate technical feasibility and value for major new initiatives, especially within your core domain expertise
- Product Vision: Act as a thought partner to operational and business leadership, shaping how Zipline’s customer- and operator-facing applications evolve. Evaluate integrations with external partners such as government agencies or logistics networks to extend Zipline’s reach and impact
- Team Building & Growth: Build and scale a high-performing team of full-stack, ERP, and data engineers across continents. Foster autonomy, mentorship, and leadership at every level while maintaining a strong sense of shared purpose and execution excellence
- Cross-Functional Integration: Collaborate closely with Systems, Hardware, Manufacturing, Operations, and Business teams to ensure cohesive execution. Equip stakeholders with the software tools and data they need to deliver on ambitious, company-wide goals
- Process & Continuous Improvement: Champion ongoing improvement in development and deployment practices — identifying bottlenecks, introducing automation, and evolving tools and workflows to accelerate delivery without compromising quality or safety
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 8 rounds)
Apr 2023
$330m
SERIES F
Jul 2021
$250m
SERIES E
Total funding: $813.7m
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.
Salary benchmarks
We don't have enough data yet to provide salary benchmarks for this role.
Submit your salary to help other candidates with crowdsourced salary estimates.
Share this job
View 50 more jobs at Zipline