Computational Physics Intern (Fall 2026)

About the Systems Modeling Team

The Systems Modeling Team has tremendous power to shape Zipline’s products. We develop physics-based models and use them to architect our aircraft, as well as the supporting logistics system. Using simulation, we can rapidly explore a vast array of designs to optimize future products, and we can find ways to squeeze more performance out of our existing products. 

Systems Modeling brings diverse teams and fields together (e.g. electrical, thermal, mechanical, aerodynamics, battery chemistry, controls, fleet operations, economics) to gain new insights. We translate technical conversations into rigorously framed engineering problems. We value asking pertinent questions and generating coherent answers.

The Role

Leading the way in drone delivery requires pushing the limits of individual component technologies and carefully orchestrating which ones we put together to optimize the performance of the complete vehicle. How much of the benefit of a larger motor is counteracted by its aerodynamic penalty? How much range are we willing to give up for extra payload capacity? How do we optimally control battery charging – electrically and thermally – to strike a balance between turnaround time and battery longevity?

Answering these types of questions requires high-caliber computational tools. Zipline is seeking an engineering intern that can understand system-level problem statements, appreciate the tradeoffs between accuracy and computational efficiency, and architect elegant code tools. The outputs of these tools will directly drive critical architectural and operational decisions at the aircraft and fleet level.

What You'll Do

• Develop computational tools to automate high-level design trades, optimizations, and sensitivity studies
• Improve the performance and flexibility of simulation frameworks
• Build physics-based models that underlie aircraft performance simulations
• Analyze test data to validate vehicle component models

What You'll Bring

• A drive to help people and make the world a better place
• A basic understanding of fundamental physics:
• Energy and power
• Heat transfer 
• Electrical circuits
• Dynamics (kinematics, forces, moments, acceleration/rotation)
• Fluids and aerodynamics
• Passion for tackling challenging multidisciplinary problems
• The ability to recognize tradeoffs in the design of complex computational analysis frameworks 
• Expertise in Matlab, Python, Julia, Rust, or similar; for modeling, simulation, optimization, and/or data analysis
• Proficiency in numerical methods 

Nice to have:

• Basic understanding of batteries, electric motors, and/or aircraft dynamics; and typical approaches to modeling them
• Experience interpreting experimental data
• Experience with model-based systems design, ideally in an extracurricular setting

What Else You Should Know 

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.

Zipline is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your point of contact at Zipline know if you require any accommodations throughout your interview process.