Droid Autonomy Intern (Summer 2027)
About this role
Analyze real-world flight data, design validation experiments, and develop tools to improve motion planning and decision-making for autonomous delivery robots. The Droid Planning Team manages the complete autonomy stack behind package pickup and delivery, spanning perception, high-level behaviors, and motion planning to operate safely in unpredictable environments.
Zipline designs and operates a large autonomous logistics system spanning multiple continents. This internship offers hands-on experience deploying robotics at scale, collaborating directly with perception, autonomy, and flight testing groups to turn data insights into field improvements.
Candidates pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related disciplines who possess strong statistical reasoning, a structured problem-solving approach, and proficiency in writing safe and performant code will thrive in this collaborative setting.
What you will do
- Work hands-on with autonomous robots operating in the real world to expand delivery capabilities.
- Analyze and validate real-world data to understand system performance and identify failure modes.
- Design experiments and models that improve the robot's ability to make reliable decisions in variable environments.
- Translate validation insights into actionable improvements affecting delivery speed, accuracy, and safety.
- Collaborate closely with perception, autonomy, and flight testing teams across the robotics stack.
- Apply statistics and machine learning techniques to increase delivery reliability and robustness.
- Develop tools and pipelines to evaluate motion planning models and connect improvements to field performance.
What you need
- Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
- Familiarity with learning-based planning methods.
- Software proficiency and the ability to write safe and performant code.
- Willingness to learn new languages and adapt quickly.
- Statistical reasoning and validation mindset to design experiments and interpret results.
- Structured problem solver capable of breaking ambiguous problems into executable plans.
- Ability to work in person at the South San Francisco office.
Benefits
- Housing stipend
- Overtime pay
- Relocation support
- Paid sick time
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the work location and remote policy for this internship?
The role requires the intern to be able to work in person at the South San Francisco, California office.
What factors determine the final cash pay for the role?
The final cash pay depends on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, and working location.
What does the total compensation package include beyond cash pay?
The total compensation package may include a housing stipend, overtime pay, relocation support, paid sick time, and more.
What does the Droid Autonomy team actually own?
The Droid Autonomy team owns the entire autonomy stack behind droid package pickup and delivery, including perception, high-level decision making, and motion planning.