Development Lead, Ground Charging Infrastructure

Zipline is the worlds 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 worlds largest autonomous logistics system delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today Zipline operates on four continents makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds and has completed millions of deliveries to date including blood vaccines medical supplies food and retail products.

Our customers include the worlds largest and most prominent healthcare systems governments retailers restaurants and global businesses who rely on us to save lives reduce emissions increase economic opportunity and provide delivery from point A to point B as fast as possible. The drone is only 15% of what weve built to enable seamless reliable global operations.

Our system strengthens supply chains reduces congestion and gives people time back. With more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown Zipline is redefining access to healthcare consumer products and food across the globe.

We operate at a global scale and are looking for practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth. Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct meaningful impact on peoples lives and by scaling the future of logistics. We are seeking people who sculpt from first principles enjoy facing adversity and can do the impossible at record breaking speeds.

Zipline is looking for a Development Manager Lead to lead the strategy and execution of ground system infrastructure that enables the next generation of autonomous this role you will oversee a portfolio of infrastructure development projects guiding them from early site evaluation through permitting and construction readiness while helping shape the processes standards and partnerships that enable Zipline to scale.

As a senior technical leader you will partner closely with Engineering Construction Government Affairs Legal Operations Real Estate and external stakeholders to deliver reliable scalable infrastructure. You will provide leadership on complex development challenges mentor Development Managers and serve as a trusted advisor on permitting strategy utility coordination and regulatory engagement.

This is a highly cross-functional role that requires deep technical expertise sound business judgment and exceptional stakeholder management. Youll build strong relationships with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) utility providers consultants and landowners while navigating complex regulatory environments to advance projects efficiently and responsibly.

• Lead the development and execution of a portfolio of ground infrastructure projects from site identification through permitting and construction readiness.
• Provide technical leadership and strategic guidance for site due diligence feasibility assessments site design permitting and utility coordination.
• Develop and standardize development processes permitting strategies design standards and best practices to improve scalability and execution across projects.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Development Managers fostering their growth and ensuring consistent project execution.
• Oversee complex site due diligence activities including land surveys title review easement verification environmental studies geotechnical investigations and regulatory assessments.
• Review and guide multidisciplinary design packages to ensure constructability operational requirements regulatory compliance and cost objectives are met.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) utility providers consultants and key external stakeholders.
• Lead negotiations with regulatory agencies and utility providers to resolve complex permitting and infrastructure challenges.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering Construction Government Affairs Legal Operations and Supply Chain to align development priorities and remove execution roadblocks.
• Identify portfolio-level risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain project schedules budgets and business objectives.
• Communicate project status risks and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement across the development organization through lessons learned process optimization and technical excellence.

• 8-15 years of experience leading land or infrastructure development projects from due diligence through permitting and construction readiness in industries such as autonomous aviation EV charging infrastructure energy telecommunications commercial development or other complex infrastructure sectors.
• Proven experience leading multiple concurrent projects or infrastructure portfolios with demonstrated success delivering complex development programs.
• Strong technical expertise in civil structural electrical or utility infrastructure development with the ability to make sound engineering and business decisions.
• Extensive experience navigating entitlement permitting environmental review and utility service processes with regulatory agencies and utility providers.
• Demonstrated success leading negotiations with AHJs utility companies consultants and external partners.
• Experience mentoring coaching or leading technical teams and developing high-performing organizations.
• Exceptional project management organizational and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence decisions across technical and non-technical audiences.
• A collaborative leadership style with a bias for action sound judgment and a passion for building infrastructure that enables innovative technologies.
• Ability to travel approximately 25% of the time as required by business needs.

The starting cash range for this role is $163000 - 250000. 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 candidates experience qualifications skills working location and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may also include: equity compensation; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical dental and vision insurance; paid time off; 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!

For government reporting purposes we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Zipline s Equal Employment Opportunity policy we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.