Staff Software Engineer

Job Summary

The Staff Software Engineer leads architectural design and full-stack development for Zipline's healthcare fulfillment systems in Kigali. This engineer builds event-driven microservices using Kafka, Postgres, Python/Go, and React, linking autonomous drone flight coordination with hospital order tracking, medical inventory, and field supply chains across Africa.

Key Roles & Operational Responsibilities

1. Healthcare Fulfillment Architecture & System Design

• End-to-End Ownership: Architect and ship backend and frontend applications for fulfillment, maintenance, order processing, and drone flight coordination supporting Zipline’s African healthcare network.
• Distributed & Event-Driven Systems: Design scalable, modular event-driven microservices using Kafka to handle real-time inventory movements, flight states, and hospital fulfillment pipelines.
• Database & Performance Optimization: Construct robust relational data models in Postgres, tuning queries and indexing strategy for high-throughput operational tracking.

2. Operational Reliability, Testing & Observability

• Production Resiliency: Enhance system observability, error recovery, and uptime across distributed nest software so local operators can execute time-critical medical deliveries safely.
• Automated Quality Pipelines: Build end-to-end unit, integration, and system testing frameworks to safeguard critical medical inventory, blood cold-chains, and delivery workflows.

3. Engineering Leadership & Technical Mentorship

• Staff-Level Mentorship: Mentor junior and mid-level software engineers through architecture design reviews, pair programming, code reviews, and engineering best practice enforcement.
• AI-Assisted Workflows: Champion modern software development techniques, integrating AI-assisted development, testing, and operational observability tools to boost team velocity.

Foundational Capabilities & Prerequisites

Required Technical Profile & Experience

• Industry Track Record: Minimum 10+ years of experience designing, building, and operating production-grade, distributed systems at scale.
• Full-Stack Proficiency: Deep hands-on experience with backend technologies (Python, Go, or equivalent OOP languages) coupled with modern web frameworks (React or modern JavaScript/TypeScript equivalents).
• Event-Driven Architecture: Proven expertise architecting asynchronous, event-driven streaming pipelines using Kafka or comparable message brokers.
• Relational Database Mastery: Advanced database modeling, schema migration design, and performance tuning using PostgreSQL.
• Logistics & Domain Context: Prior experience with fulfillment, warehouse management (WMS), inventory tracking, or logistics systems is highly valued.
• Field Travel Willingness: Willing and able to travel 3–4 times annually to visit operational nests and field facilities across Africa.

What Zipline Offers

• High-Impact Mission: Directly design systems that save lives, deliver critical blood and medical supplies, and pioneer autonomous logistics across the globe.
• Global Tech Leadership: Work alongside world-class robotics, software, and aerospace engineers building cutting-edge logistics platforms.
• Competitive Package: Competitive salary, equity stock options, local health benefits, and career progression pathways within the premier autonomous drone company.

Skills Required:

• Computer / Software / It / Data