Senior EMI/EMC Engineer - Avionics

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. Through our technology that includes 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

As a Senior EMI/EMC engineer on the Avionics team, you will be responsible for architecting and executing on EMI/EMC compliance from board level to spacecraft level. You will work with mechanical, electrical, and integration engineers to ensure compliance across all systems.

These components are at the core of a new unmanned aerial system that will enable Zipline’s impact to expand from 100,000 deliveries/year to 100 million across the globe. In addition, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with world class engineers across all disciplines and experience levels. Zipline values personal development highly and encourages an environment of continuous learning and mentorship.

The Avionics team encounters many challenges when designing robust avionics systems to provide life-saving service in some of the harshest environments on Earth. At the start of any project, our team plays a vital role in system architecture, designing for performance, reliability, and fault tolerance, while balancing mass and cost. Included in this is the design of an FAA-approved safety system to ensure the safety of employees, customers, and bystanders.

To achieve Zipline’s goal of serving anyone anywhere, all aspects of a design must also be successful in a wide range of real-world environments by being robust against environmental, ESD, and EMI threats. These are just some of the many challenges that make us excited to go to work everyday.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute EMI/EMC test plans from PCB level to integrated spacecraft level
• Analysis, design, and troubleshooting related to EMI/EMC, system grounding, circuit isolation, shielding, etc.
• Specify, procure, and maintain lab equipment related to EMI/EMC testing
• Promote best practices across various electrical and mechanical design teams
• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team

What You'll Bring

• A degree in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Hardware Engineering or equivalent, and 5-10 years of practical experience in the EMC/EMI field
• At least 5 years of experience performing testing in the areas of Radiated Emission, Radiated Susceptibility, Conducted Emission, and Conducted Susceptibility
• This position requires a thorough understanding EMI/EMC design implementation philosophy to achieve EMI/EMC compliance and involves a blend of hands-on testing, design consultation and regulatory compliance management
• Support EMC Test Readiness Reviews, EMI lab management, EMC analyses (analytical and numerical), Troubleshooting issues, Preliminary Design Review and Critical Design Reviews
• Collaborate with electrical design teams in all phases of product design, from the concept and architecture definition, development, validation testing, and introduction into production
• Provide direction in the areas of schematic and circuit board layout design, product packaging and assembly, and cable design for RF shielding
• Identify and document ECU level susceptibilities to electromagnetic environments, including ESD, transients, radiated and conducted emissions
• Analyze 2D/3D electromagnetic phenomena using ANSYS/Comsol tools and in-house developed tools
• Define and validate ECU level electrical bonding/grounding/shielding specs
• Act as a liaison to conduct off site testing and provide directions to lab personnel in setting up and executing EMI/EMC certification testing
• Perform testing to standards such as MIL-STD-461, RTCA/DO-160, MIL-DTL-810, EIA-364-66, MIL-DTL-38999, MIL-DTL-24308
• Proficiency on test and measurement tools (Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer, spectrum analyzer)
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced, collaborative, cross-functional environment
• Clear communication skills and the ability to explain technical challenges to both fellow engineers and non-engineers alike
• Must be able to work at Zipline’s South San Francisco office

Additional Skills

• Experience automating lab measurements using Python or other scripting languages
• Experience dealing with EMI/EMC issues for high power electronics
• Experience using electromagnetic analysis tools (CST, HFSS, ADS etc)
• Knowledge of antennas and electromagnetic propagation
• Ability to read and interpret PCB schematic and layout, electrical interface drawings, and mechanical CAD documents

What Else You Need to Know

The starting cash range for this role is $170,000 - $210,000. 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!