Zipline

Simulation Engineer Interview Experience - South San Francisco, California

May 1, 2023

Negative ExperienceNo Offer

Process

I applied through a recruiter. The process took four weeks.

Recruiter reached out early in the process. After initial outreach, I didn't hear back from her for quite some time. We finally scheduled a Zoom interview after a few weeks of crickets. During the video interview, I was really put off by the complete lack of interest and attention from the interviewer. Lol, she was too busy stuffing her face with couscous or quinoa, and I couldn't really tell. I wasn't surprised I didn't get invited back to the next round. Had she paid attention to what I was saying and actually engaged me instead of her lunch, perhaps we could've gotten somewhere.

Questions

She didn't really ask much at all, and she left the talking to me so she could eat her food.

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Interview Statistics

The following metrics were computed from 1 interview experience for the Zipline Simulation Engineer role in South San Francisco, California.

Success Rate

0%

Pass Rate

Zipline's interview process for their Simulation Engineer roles in South San Francisco, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.

Experience Rating

Positive0%

Neutral0%

Negative100%

Candidates reported having very negative feelings for Zipline's Simulation Engineer interview process in South San Francisco, California.

Zipline Work Experiences

Employee Review

Quality Assurance • Current Employee

Pros: The environment at Zipline is fast-paced, but the strong cross-functional collaboration facilitates efficient decision-making processes.

Cons: Because the team is located in various parts of the world, you adjust to different time zones.

Employee Review

Quality Assurance • Current Employee

Pros: The environment at Zipline is fast-paced, but the strong cross-functional collaboration facilitates efficient decision-making processes.

Cons: Because the team is located in various parts of the world, you adjust to different time zones.

Incredibly hardworking company that is actually saving lives everyday

Hardware and Test • Current Employee

Half Moon Bay, CA

February 18, 2019

Pros: There is excellent culture at Zipline. People work hard and have extreme ownership of what they work on. Everyone believes in the mission and it drives them to do their best work. You are challenged everyday with new problems, but it helps you to learn quickly and make important design decisions because lives actually depend on it. We take our time to ensure that we hire highly qualified individuals that add to our strong culture. And once a part of the company, we have people that are looking out for your growth and make sure you are reaching your personal goals too.

Cons: Sometimes the hours can be long, but the impact that we have is large and worth it.

Incredibly hardworking company that is actually saving lives everyday

Hardware and Test • Current Employee

Half Moon Bay, CA

February 18, 2019

Pros: There is excellent culture at Zipline. People work hard and have extreme ownership of what they work on. Everyone believes in the mission and it drives them to do their best work. You are challenged everyday with new problems, but it helps you to learn quickly and make important design decisions because lives actually depend on it. We take our time to ensure that we hire highly qualified individuals that add to our strong culture. And once a part of the company, we have people that are looking out for your growth and make sure you are reaching your personal goals too.

Cons: Sometimes the hours can be long, but the impact that we have is large and worth it.

Dream job quickly turned nightmare. "Cult" like atmosphere

Mechanical Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: Catered Lunch Passionate people Interesting tech "Altruistic" mission

Cons: Where to begin... Let's start with expectations. All employees are held under a intense scrutiny to perform. There is a timeline here at play, as Zipline is looking to turn a profit and that involves getting as many "Nests" up and running as they possibly can. This has led to completely unrealistic expectations on what can, and cannot be done. Upper management guns for anyone who sticks their head out, and problems aren't dealt with, rather they are squashed by getting rid of the one who speaks up. Verbal abuse is common, and it seems like the people who actually care, get defecated on even more. Morale is poor. It's turned into a labor camp of sorts where everyone is so burned out all the time. Another reviewer described it as "Engineering Puppy Mill", which is an apt description. Encouragement from defeated peers are repeated constantly such as "At least we're delivering life saving medicines in Africa". Which is true, and certainly worthy of appreciation but this has become problematic as it turns out the altruistic mission has just been a way for zipline to bootstrap itself into the commercial market, of delivering lattes, and lunches. This reflects on the leadership of the company as a whole, as being Machiavellian and conniving. These people are shrewd, cutthroat and intelligent. They have one goal and one goal only- Expansion. Backstabbing is common, and politics are rampant. It's an environment of survival of the fittest, and the competition is fierce. I'm not really sure what to make of it any more. All you can do is keep your head down; because if you rock the boat, you WILL be taken out.

Dream job quickly turned nightmare. "Cult" like atmosphere

Mechanical Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: Catered Lunch Passionate people Interesting tech "Altruistic" mission

Cons: Where to begin... Let's start with expectations. All employees are held under a intense scrutiny to perform. There is a timeline here at play, as Zipline is looking to turn a profit and that involves getting as many "Nests" up and running as they possibly can. This has led to completely unrealistic expectations on what can, and cannot be done. Upper management guns for anyone who sticks their head out, and problems aren't dealt with, rather they are squashed by getting rid of the one who speaks up. Verbal abuse is common, and it seems like the people who actually care, get defecated on even more. Morale is poor. It's turned into a labor camp of sorts where everyone is so burned out all the time. Another reviewer described it as "Engineering Puppy Mill", which is an apt description. Encouragement from defeated peers are repeated constantly such as "At least we're delivering life saving medicines in Africa". Which is true, and certainly worthy of appreciation but this has become problematic as it turns out the altruistic mission has just been a way for zipline to bootstrap itself into the commercial market, of delivering lattes, and lunches. This reflects on the leadership of the company as a whole, as being Machiavellian and conniving. These people are shrewd, cutthroat and intelligent. They have one goal and one goal only- Expansion. Backstabbing is common, and politics are rampant. It's an environment of survival of the fittest, and the competition is fierce. I'm not really sure what to make of it any more. All you can do is keep your head down; because if you rock the boat, you WILL be taken out.

Employee Review

Quality Assurance • Current Employee

Pros: The environment at Zipline is fast-paced, but the strong cross-functional collaboration facilitates efficient decision-making processes.

Cons: Because the team is located in various parts of the world, you adjust to different time zones.

5.0
Employee Review
Quality Assurance • Current Employee
Accra
July 3, 2024
Pros: The environment at Zipline is fast-paced, but the strong cross-functional collaboration facilitates efficient decision-making processes.
Cons: Because the team is located in various parts of the world, you adjust to different time zones.

Incredibly hardworking company that is actually saving lives everyday

Hardware and Test • Current Employee

Half Moon Bay, CA

February 18, 2019

Pros: There is excellent culture at Zipline. People work hard and have extreme ownership of what they work on. Everyone believes in the mission and it drives them to do their best work. You are challenged everyday with new problems, but it helps you to learn quickly and make important design decisions because lives actually depend on it. We take our time to ensure that we hire highly qualified individuals that add to our strong culture. And once a part of the company, we have people that are looking out for your growth and make sure you are reaching your personal goals too.

Cons: Sometimes the hours can be long, but the impact that we have is large and worth it.

5.0
Incredibly hardworking company that is actually saving lives everyday
Hardware and Test • Current Employee
Half Moon Bay, CA
February 18, 2019
Pros: There is excellent culture at Zipline. People work hard and have extreme ownership of what they work on. Everyone believes in the mission and it drives them to do their best work. You are challenged everyday with new problems, but it helps you to learn quickly and make important design decisions because lives actually depend on it. We take our time to ensure that we hire highly qualified individuals that add to our strong culture. And once a part of the company, we have people that are looking out for your growth and make sure you are reaching your personal goals too.
Cons: Sometimes the hours can be long, but the impact that we have is large and worth it.

Dream job quickly turned nightmare. "Cult" like atmosphere

Mechanical Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: Catered Lunch Passionate people Interesting tech "Altruistic" mission

Cons: Where to begin... Let's start with expectations. All employees are held under a intense scrutiny to perform. There is a timeline here at play, as Zipline is looking to turn a profit and that involves getting as many "Nests" up and running as they possibly can. This has led to completely unrealistic expectations on what can, and cannot be done. Upper management guns for anyone who sticks their head out, and problems aren't dealt with, rather they are squashed by getting rid of the one who speaks up. Verbal abuse is common, and it seems like the people who actually care, get defecated on even more. Morale is poor. It's turned into a labor camp of sorts where everyone is so burned out all the time. Another reviewer described it as "Engineering Puppy Mill", which is an apt description. Encouragement from defeated peers are repeated constantly such as "At least we're delivering life saving medicines in Africa". Which is true, and certainly worthy of appreciation but this has become problematic as it turns out the altruistic mission has just been a way for zipline to bootstrap itself into the commercial market, of delivering lattes, and lunches. This reflects on the leadership of the company as a whole, as being Machiavellian and conniving. These people are shrewd, cutthroat and intelligent. They have one goal and one goal only- Expansion. Backstabbing is common, and politics are rampant. It's an environment of survival of the fittest, and the competition is fierce. I'm not really sure what to make of it any more. All you can do is keep your head down; because if you rock the boat, you WILL be taken out.

1.0
Dream job quickly turned nightmare. "Cult" like atmosphere
Mechanical Engineer • Former Employee
April 12, 2023
Pros: Catered Lunch Passionate people Interesting tech "Altruistic" mission
Cons: Where to begin... Let's start with expectations. All employees are held under a intense scrutiny to perform. There is a timeline here at play, as Zipline is looking to turn a profit and that involves getting as many "Nests" up and running as they possibly can. This has led to completely unrealistic expectations on what can, and cannot be done. Upper management guns for anyone who sticks their head out, and problems aren't dealt with, rather they are squashed by getting rid of the one who speaks up. Verbal abuse is common, and it seems like the people who actually care, get defecated on even more. Morale is poor. It's turned into a labor camp of sorts where everyone is so burned out all the time. Another reviewer described it as "Engineering Puppy Mill", which is an apt description. Encouragement from defeated peers are repeated constantly such as "At least we're delivering life saving medicines in Africa". Which is true, and certainly worthy of appreciation but this has become problematic as it turns out the altruistic mission has just been a way for zipline to bootstrap itself into the commercial market, of delivering lattes, and lunches. This reflects on the leadership of the company as a whole, as being Machiavellian and conniving. These people are shrewd, cutthroat and intelligent. They have one goal and one goal only- Expansion. Backstabbing is common, and politics are rampant. It's an environment of survival of the fittest, and the competition is fierce. I'm not really sure what to make of it any more. All you can do is keep your head down; because if you rock the boat, you WILL be taken out.

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