Zipline

Launch Manager

South San Francisco, California, USA Full Time

About Zipline

Do you want to change the world? Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges by building, manufacturing and operating the first instant delivery and logistics system that serves all humans equally, wherever they are. From powering Rwanda’s national blood delivery network and Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, to providing on-demand home delivery for Walmart, to enabling healthcare providers to bring care directly to U.S. homes, we are transforming the way things move for businesses, governments and consumers. The technology is complex but the idea is simple: a teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it. Using robotics and autonomy, we are decarbonizing delivery, decreasing road congestion, and reducing fossil fuel consumption and air pollution, while providing equitable access to billions of people and building a more resilient global supply chain.
 
Join Zipline and help us to make good on our promise to build an equitable and more resilient global supply chain for billions of people.

About You and The Role  

Zipline is seeking a Site Launch Manager to lead the end-to-end deployment of Charging Points and the partner ecosystem that enables the network to scale. This is a senior, highly cross-functional role responsible for driving sites from approval through first delivery and into stable operations.

As the single-threaded owner of launch outcomes within your markets, you will translate ambitious network expansion goals into clear, executable plans and ensure new capacity comes online safely, quickly, and repeatably. You will operate at the center of complex, real-world deployments, partnering closely with teams across infrastructure, flight operations, regulatory, community engagement, and commercial functions.

This role sits within Launch & Site Operations and complements horizontal program teams that build the scalable systems and playbooks behind our launches. Success in this role requires strong operational judgment, ownership mentality, and the ability to drive cross-functional execution in fast-moving environments. Please note that this role requires frequent travel to Dallas, Houston, Phoenix (plus future metros to be named) to support the launches of our charging locations and partner sites. 

What You'll Do  

  • Be the single-threaded owner for the launch of Zipline’s charging sites from approval through early operations, ensuring sites come online efficiently, on schedule, and at high quality
  • Own launch readiness across a portfolio of markets or regions
  • Orchestrate the launch of restaurant, retail, and healthcare partner locations supported by each charging site, including the deployment of Zipline’s distributed package-loading infrastructure — Zipping Points
  • Build and drive the integrated launch plan across permitting, construction, infrastructure, flight operations, maintenance, community engagement, communications, and commercial readiness
  • Manage the critical path, identify risks, and unblock cross-functional execution in real time; escalate effectively and drive tradeoff decisions
  • Build and continuously improve the processes, systems, and tools that power launch execution, driving automation, clear cross-functional visibility, and step-change improvements in efficiency
  • Help Zipline scale its launch engine across new metros and verticals

What You'll Bring 

  • 6+ years of experience in operations, program management, deployments, or marketplace/physical network scaling
  • Demonstrated ownership of complex, cross-functional launches or infrastructure rollouts
  • Strong project and program management instincts with a bias for action and accountability
  • Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills
  • Comfort operating in ambiguity and driving structure in fast-moving environments
  • Ability to manage multiple launches simultaneously without losing critical detail
  • Willingness to travel within assigned metros as needed

Preferred

  • Experience launching physical infrastructure, logistics networks, or new market operations
  • Background in aviation, robotics, autonomous systems, logistics, or last-mile delivery
  • Experience working with city stakeholders, permitting, or construction workflows
  • MBA or advanced degree in a relevant field

What Else You Need to Know   

The starting cash range for this role is $140,000-180,000. 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 candidate's 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, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by state, federal or local law or our other policies.
 
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!