Development Manager, Ground Charging Infrastructure

About Zipline

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.

About You and The Role

Zipline is looking for a Development Manager to lead the development of critical ground system as charging infrastructure that enables the next generation of autonomous operations. You will own projects from early site evaluation through permitting and pre-construction partnering closely with Engineering Construction Legal Government Affairs Operations and external stakeholders to deliver scalable reliable infrastructure.

This is a highly cross-functional role that combines technical expertise project leadership and stakeholder management. Youll navigate complex regulatory environments manage multidisciplinary consultants coordinate with utility providers and build strong relationships with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to successfully advance projects from concept to construction readiness.

You thrive in ambiguous environments and enjoy solving complex development challenges to help scale novel technologies. You combine strong technical judgment with exceptional project management skills and know how to balance engineering regulatory schedule and business considerations to keep projects moving forward.

Youre an effective communicator who can confidently present technical solutions to executives regulatory agencies utility providers and community stakeholders. Whether youre negotiating permit conditions coordinating design reviews or aligning cross-functional teams youre comfortable leading diverse groups toward a common objective.

What Youll Do

• Lead projects through the development lifecycle from initial due diligence to permit approval.
• Lead comprehensive site due diligence activities including feasibility assessments and site constraint analyses.
• Manage land surveys title review easement verification environmental studies geotechnical investigations and other technical evaluations.
• Assess regulatory requirements zoning compliance and permitting pathways.
• Manage preliminary and site design activities from concept through permit-ready design packages.
• Review design deliverables to ensure compliance with project requirements permitting standards constructability and budget objectives.
• Drive timely resolution of design issues across internal and external stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with local regional and state regulatory agencies.
• Lead pre-application meetings and coordinate agency review processes.
• Present projects before planning commissions permitting agencies utility boards and other regulatory bodies as required.
• Navigate complex regulatory requirements while representing project interests professionally and effectively.
• Lead projects through all required permitting and entitlement processes.
• Coordinate permit application preparation submittals agency review comments and resubmittals.
• Coordinate with utility providers and grid operators on service requests design reviews service agreements and utility connection requirements.

What Youll Bring

• 510 years of experience leading land or infrastructure development projects from due diligence through permitting and construction readiness in industries such as EV charging infrastructure autonomous aviation energy commercial development or other complex infrastructure sectors.
• A strong technical foundation in civil structural or electrical infrastructure development.
• Demonstrated success managing consultants engineering firms and external vendors.
• Experience working with utilities and regulatory agencies to obtain permits and utility service approvals.
• Excellent organizational negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to independently drive multiple complex projects while maintaining attention to detail and strategic priorities.
• A collaborative mindset with a bias for action and a passion for building infrastructure that enables innovative technologies.

What Else You Need To Know

The starting cash range for this role is $170000 - 215000. 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!