Business Operations, Real Estate & Pre-Construction

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  

As a Project Manager in the DFW region, you will be responsible for rolling out our systems in the metro and paving the way imagining how the UAV world meets the built environment - not just for Zipline but for our customers and the industry as a whole. You will manage the entire process from site identification through permitting, approvals, and construction. You will work closely with the Government Affairs team to build strong relationships with key stakeholders and secure the necessary approvals to expand our network.

 

You will also be working with the Engineering and Operations teams to tackle all the technical challenges we face head-on to get our customer’s sites operational as quickly as possible. You will have to be technically savvy, and be able to develop relationships with customers, suppliers and contractors. 

 

This position is based out of our regional office in Dallas-Fort Worth.

What You'll Do  

• Pre-Construction & Risk Management:
• Support site selection, feasibility studies, and risk assessments, ensuring compliance with local land-use, zoning, and aviation regulations.
• Identify and mitigate preconstruction and construction risks, including permitting challenges, environmental constraints, and site-specific infrastructure limitations.
• Work with engineering teams to develop site plans and drawings necessary for permit submission.
• Permitting & Regulatory Compliance:
• Engage with city planners, zoning officials, and building departments to streamline permitting processes.
• Ensure construction projects adhere to FAA, state, and local regulatory requirements for autonomous drone delivery infrastructure.
• Partner with Government Affairs to advocate for and navigate regulatory frameworks that impact site development.
• Represent Zipline in public forums, including Planning & Zoning commissions and City Council meetings, advocating for site approvals.
• Construction Management & Execution:
• Work closely with customer real estate teams to seamlessly integrate Zipline infrastructure into both existing and newly designed facilities.
• Oversee site development, contractor selection, and on-site construction activities, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards.
• Manage installation of drone delivery infrastructure, storage facilities, electrical systems, and communications networks needed for Zipline operations.
• Establish and maintain project timelines, budgets, and contractor performance metrics.
• Conduct on-site inspections, enforce construction standards, and manage subcontractor deliverables.

What You'll Bring 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Others) or Construction Management.
• 5+ years of experience in real estate development, civil engineering, and/or construction management.
• Bonus: Professional Engineering (Civil) License in the State of Texas and ability to stamp drawings.
• Strong understanding of zoning laws, building codes, and regulatory processes related to site development.
• Proven ability to manage entitlements, permitting, construction contractors, subcontractors and real estate development projects in collaboration with customers’ Real Estate and Construction teams.
• Proficiency in construction scheduling software (e.g., Microsoft Project), Smartsheet, Bluebeam, (Revit / AutoCAD a bonus).
• Ability to interface with government officials, permitting agencies, and community stakeholders to advocate for and secure project approvals.
• Bonus: Experience working in aviation, logistics, or autonomous vehicle infrastructure.
• Strong candidates should have excellent communications skills and experience presenting at public meetings.
• The individual will be based at Zipline's regional office in Dallas-Fort Worth and will be expected to travel up to 30% of the time to implement Zipline's expansion in multiple metros across the US and possibly internationally.
• Must be eligible to work in the US.

What Else You Need to Know