Low angle view of the Tesla Motors dealership facade with logo and plaque in Pleasanton, California, July 23, 2018. (Photo by Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images)
Smith / Gado Collection
An influential engineering director at Tesla, Joe Mardall, resigned from his position at the automaker to become head of engineering at Zipline, according to his own LinkedIn profile.
Zipline is a manufacturer of drones and air delivery services focused on the distribution of blood and other medical supplies.
Among his achievements over a decade at Tesla, Mardall led the development of a Model Y heat pump system, praised by CEO Elon Musk on Twitter, and led Tesla’s efforts to design a Covid sufferer fan that could be produced with auto parts. (He never produced fans.)
Before getting involved in engineering the latest Tesla crossover SUV, the Model Y, Mardall also developed thermal and HVAC technologies that became defining characteristics of the company’s previous Model X and Model 3 vehicles. His name is on several Tesla patents.
According to Forge, a secondary market, Zipline is currently raising a Series E financing round with shares priced at around $ 32.63, indicating a valuation north of $ 2 billion.
Mardall wrote in a public post on LinkedIn:
“After 10 wonderful years at Tesla, I am super excited to begin my next chapter as Chief Engineer of Zipline, working with a team of talented and committed engineers to provide all humans on Earth with instant access to vital medical supplies. The next 5 years will change everything and I can’t wait! We are hiring for all engineering roles and would love to hear from you – come fly with me! “
Mardall did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
Applications are open for 2021 CNBC Disruptor 50, a list of private start-ups that use innovative technology to become the next generation of large public companies. Submit until Friday, February 12th, at 3pm EST.