Software Systems Validation Intern (Spring 2027)

As a Software Systems Validation Intern at Zipline, you will evaluate the software that powers autonomous drone delivery systems. This role involves collaborating with engineers to build tests, tools, and visualizations that ensure system reliability and performance.

About Zipline

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably.

About the System Validation Team

Zipline’s Software Systems Validation team ensures that all the software powering our autonomous delivery aircraft works reliably, safely, and as intended in the real world. We operate at the system level—evaluating how components like navigation, perception, controls, planning, and actuation work together as a cohesive product.

The team partners closely with Embedded Software, Autonomy, Systems Engineering, Test Infrastructure, and Data Platform groups to build validation tools, analyze performance, and identify risks early. Our work spans simulation, hardware testing, data-driven analysis, and system-level evaluations that support deployments across the globe.

The Role

As a Software Systems Validation Intern, you will help evaluate the software that enables Zipline’s autonomous drone delivery system. You’ll contribute to building tests, tools, metrics, and visualizations that help the team understand system performance, identify issues, and ensure reliability before flight.

What You'll Do

• Support the design and execution of test scenarios across the autonomous software stack to validate system-level requirements
• Help develop and improve validation tools, workflows, and automation
• Build visualizations or metrics that highlight performance trends, gaps, or regressions
• Work with test infrastructure and data platform teams to run validation pipelines
• Analyze results and contribute to identifying root causes of failures or unexpected behavior
• Document findings and communicate insights to engineering stakeholders

What You'll Bring

You must have completed the second year of your undergraduate studies in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. Masters and PhD students are also eligible.

Coursework or project experience in robotics, controls, estimation, navigation, perception, or software development.

Familiarity with testing, debugging, or validation.