Zipline Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: October 2026

Zipline has two intern cohorts open at the same time. On 3 October 2026 its open roles page listed 86 US internship requisitions across 48 distinct roles: 40 for a spring 2027 cohort that runs January to April, 43 for a summer 2027 cohort that runs from May or June to August or September, and one req covering both. Most roles are posted twice, once per cohort, and Zipline caps you at three applications in any 30-day period.

In plain words: the next Zipline cohort starts in January 2027 and you can apply for it now, while the summer 2027 cohort is taking applications at the same time. Zipline runs drone delivery on four continents; its reqs say it makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds and has flown more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles. In August 2026 it announced a drone-delivery partnership with Uber.

Quick Facts

Spring 2027 and summer 2027 are both open, with no deadline on any req. The three-applications-per-30-days cap matters more than timing: choose your roles before you click apply.

Zipline's reqs put more weight on things you've built than on coursework, so a finished project is worth more than a polished resume line. Externships are short, remote programs where you complete a real project for a real company, most commonly over 8 weeks. The Wayfair n8n AI Agent Engineering Externship fits the software roles, and the Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy & People Analytics Externship fits the operations and supply chain roles. Explore all Externships.

What Is a Zipline Internship?

A Zipline internship is a full-time, in-person placement at a drone-delivery company, run in three cohorts a year: fall (September to December), spring (January to April) and summer (May or June to August or September). Interns are paid hourly, and on the roles that publish a rate it runs from $30 to $54 an hour.

The class is unusually broad. Engineering interns work on aerodynamics, controls, perception, flight test, embedded firmware and the mobile and backend software behind deliveries; business interns work in accounting, strategic finance, marketing, real estate and launching new delivery markets. Zipline's mechanical req lists past intern projects that went from design to running hardware: a cooling-duct connection between aircraft and a ground station, a hand cart and service plan for removing a docked aircraft, a communications tower and a wing cycle tester. Zipline raised $600 million at a $7.6 billion valuation in January 2026.

When Do Zipline Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

Zipline posts each cohort separately and on a short lead. Spring 2026 roles went up between late September and October 2025 (about three months before a January start), and fall 2026 roles appeared between late May and July 2026. Summer is the cohort that moved: summer 2025 and summer 2026 roles posted in mid-December, while summer 2027 roles posted in August 2026, about four months earlier, alongside spring 2027 for the first time. That shift means projections for summer 2028 are low confidence. Applications for spring 2027 and for summer 2027 are open now, about four to five and nine to ten months before their starts. Applications for fall 2027 are expected around May to July 2027, and for summer 2028 around August to December 2027.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

Zipline runs a rolling process with no published deadline, and that's exactly why waiting is risky. Each role is one req per cohort, and interviews start as applications come in, so an early application is reviewed while every seat is still open.

The three-application cap raises the stakes on each click. You can't spray applications across a dozen roles and wait to see what sticks; three applications in 30 days is the limit printed on 62 of the reqs. Spend them early, on the roles that match what you've built, and choose spring or summer for each role rather than applying to both versions of everything.

Which Zipline Internship Programs Should You Target?

Most of the 48 roles are posted twice, once for spring and once for summer. These are the main families.

Browse every role on zipline.com/open-roles. A few roles are summer only, and the Technical Writer intern req lists no cohort.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

Zipline's eligibility rules are short, but the visa rule changes from req to req:

• Class year: "You must have completed at least the second year of your Undergraduate studies." Master's and PhD students are also eligible.

• Work authorization: 31 of the 86 US reqs say "Zipline is unable to sponsor work visas for applicants to this position." Most are business, field and operations roles; most engineering reqs don't carry the line. Check each req.

• Application cap: three applications in any 30-day period.

• GPA and clearance: neither appears in any intern req.

• Field roles: some ask for reliable vehicle access to reach test sites, or for one or two out-of-state trips.

Can International Students Apply to Zipline?

Sometimes. Zipline doesn't have one company-wide rule. The "unable to sponsor" line sits on 31 reqs, concentrated in accounting, marketing, commercial, construction and other business or field roles. Most engineering reqs, including software, don't include it. If you'll need sponsorship, read the bottom of each req before you spend one of your three applications.

What Skills Does Zipline Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

Zipline's reqs reward proof that you've built and tested real things. The mechanical req calls hands-on builds outside the classroom "the component of your application we're most excited about", and engineering reqs return again and again to debugging, root-causing failures and test automation. On the tooling side, Python is the most common language, followed by SQL for the analytics and business roles, CAD tools such as NX for hardware, and Rust in the software and embedded roles.

How Is Demand for Engineering Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

Each row pairs a skill from Zipline's reqs with a remote Externship that ends in a finished project you can bring to a project-focused first call.

None of these is a Zipline program, and Extern isn't affiliated with Zipline. They give you a recent, finished project to talk through, which is what Zipline's first call asks about.

What Is the Zipline Application and Interview Process Like?

Zipline doesn't publish its full intern interview loop. This is what its reqs and candidates' posts show:

1. Choose up to three roles. The 30-day cap means picking the right spring or summer version of each role matters.

2. Apply on zipline.com/open-roles. For hardware roles, show builds outside class; the mechanical req names submarines, solar cars, electric boats, airplanes and rockets as past interns' examples.

3. First call about your projects. Invitations quoted on Reddit say "the call will focus on your past projects and experiences". A September 2026 aerodynamics candidate said they asked how they'd approach a problem as an aerodynamicist, not textbook definitions.

4. Later rounds. Not documented first-hand. Expect deeper technical questions tied to the decisions in your own projects.

5. Offer and cohort start. Spring interns start in January; summer interns in May or June.

Keep a short write-up of each project you could be asked about: the goal, your part, what failed and what you changed. Our behavioral interview guide covers how to structure those answers.

What Students on Reddit Say

Candidates who've interviewed recently all describe the same thing: Zipline wants to hear about your own projects.

How Do You Stand Out for a Zipline Internship?

Three moves that fit how Zipline hires.

Lead with something you built and tested. Zipline's mechanical req says hands-on builds outside the classroom are what it's "most excited about", and lists student-team projects like solar cars, electric boats and rockets. Put the build first on your resume, with your role and a number for the result.

Prepare a project deep-dive. The first call is about your projects, so be ready to explain why you made each design choice, what broke and how you found the root cause. That matches the reqs' constant emphasis on debugging and testing.

Spend your three applications well. Pick the cohort you can actually do, consider spring if you can take a semester off, and choose roles where your projects match the req. Zipline doesn't publish an applicant count or a return-offer rate, so focus beats volume here.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

These employers hire for overlapping autonomy, aircraft and logistics work.

For more aircraft, drone and defense employers, see our aerospace and defense internships summer 2027 guide.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 Zipline internship?

No. The summer 2026 cohort has finished, and the fall 2026 cohort has already started. What's open now is spring 2027 (January to April) and summer 2027, both posted between August and September 2026. Spring is the nearest door, and neither cohort lists a deadline.

When do Zipline internship applications open?

Spring 2027 and summer 2027 applications opened together in August 2026 and are open now. Fall roles have posted in late May to July, so fall 2027 is expected then. Summer posting moved from December to August this year, so summer 2028 timing is uncertain.

Does Zipline have spring and fall internships?

Yes. Zipline runs three cohorts a year: fall from September to December, spring from January to April, and summer from May or June to August or September. Most roles are posted separately for each cohort, so the same role can appear twice on the board.

How much do Zipline interns make?

Zipline publishes hourly rates on 39 of its 86 US intern reqs, ranging from $30 to $54 an hour. Software Engineer and Perception interns are listed at $50, embedded and software validation roles at $54, and several business roles at $30 to $40. Benefits may include a housing stipend.

How many Zipline internships can I apply to?

Three in any 30-day period. That cap is printed on 62 of Zipline's intern reqs. Most roles appear twice, once for spring and once for summer, so choose the cohort you can actually attend instead of applying to both versions of every role you like.

Does Zipline sponsor visas for interns?

It depends on the role. 31 of the 86 US intern reqs, mostly business, field and operations roles, say Zipline is unable to sponsor work visas for that position. Most engineering reqs don't include that line, so read the bottom of each req before you apply.

Who is eligible for a Zipline internship?

Students who have completed at least the second year of undergraduate studies, plus master's and PhD students. No GPA minimum appears in any req. All internships are full time and in person, mostly in South San Francisco, so you'll need to be on site for the full cohort.

What is the Zipline intern interview like?

The first call focuses on your past projects and experiences, according to the invitation text candidates have shared. A recent aerodynamics candidate said questions asked how they'd approach problems in their field rather than testing definitions. Later rounds aren't documented first-hand, so prepare to defend your design choices.

Zipline's spring and summer 2027 cohorts are both open now, with three applications to spend every 30 days. Use the wait to finish a remote Externship project you can walk through on the first call.