Maintenance Lead, Austin

About the Role

Zipline's US Operations depend on aircraft that are safe, compliant, and ready to fly for customer deliveries. As UAS Maintenance Lead, you will own daily maintenance execution for a local fleet, turning inspections, repairs, and aircraft intake into reliable operational availability.

You will lead technicians and Shift Leads while staying hands‑on in the maintenance environment. You will make airworthiness decisions within approved maintenance procedures, elevate engineering or compliance questions through the appropriate channels, and build the shop‑floor discipline that supports dependable growth.

• Lead daily maintenance execution and approved airworthiness determinations for local aircraft fleet assets.
• Own workflow from aircraft receiving and conformity checks through inspection, repair, documentation, and return‑to‑service coordination.
• Set maintenance schedules, shift coverage, backlog priorities, and work‑in‑progress to meet operational readiness goals.
• Conduct maintenance planning to support continued airworthiness and fleet health programs.
• Coach Maintenance Technicians and Shift Leads through training, clear expectations, direct feedback, and performance accountability.
• Track and improve aircraft downtime, uptime, turnaround, first‑time‑fix quality, backlog closure, and technician productivity.
• Enforce maintenance SOPs, safety protocols, qualification practices, and audit‑ready records.
• Partner with engineering and compliance to root‑cause recurring issues, resolve escalations, and improve maintenance processes.
• Monitor performance KPIs and ensure the safe and efficient execution of maintenance operations.

• 5+ years of hands‑on maintenance, fleet, service‑operations, or technical leadership experience in automotive, autonomy, aviation, or a related field.
• Experience leading daily execution in a safety‑sensitive or regulated maintenance environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage inspections, repairs, maintenance backlogs, and return‑to‑service workflows.
• Ability to earn and maintain Zipline Repairman certification for authorized safety‑sensitive maintenance functions.
• Sound judgment applying approved procedures, identifying nonconformances, and escalating engineering or compliance questions.
• A record of improving system availability, turnaround, quality, or technician productivity through disciplined operating practices.
• Ability to work onsite in Austin and flex with shift operations as site needs change.

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.