Staff Simulation Engineer - Foundry, DoorDash Air

About the Role

We are seeking a Staff Simulation Engineer to build an end-to-end aerial autonomy simulation stack at DoorDash Labs. This is a highly technical, hands-on leadership role focused on defining and implementing the simulation architecture that underpins autonomy development, validation, CI/CD testing, and pilot training. You will operate as the technical authority for simulation, owning core architecture decisions, developing key components, and setting engineering standards. You will build and mentor a small, high-caliber simulation team while remaining deeply involved in implementation and system design. This role is ideal for someone who has built simulation systems from first principles, understands simulator internals deeply, and is excited to create a world-class platform from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement an end-to-end simulation stack for aerial autonomy at DoorDash Labs.
• Develop high-fidelity simulation capabilities, including:
  • Flight dynamics modeling
  • Contact modeling and constraint handling
  • Sensor and perception simulation
  • Autonomy software-in-the-loop (SITL) integration
• Design and implement scalable simulation infrastructure to support:
  • Regression testing in CI/CD pipelines
  • Continuous validation of flight autonomy and autopilot software stack
  • Mission-level testing and scenario generation
• Build cloud-deployed simulation systems to enable large-scale parallel testing and pilot training.
• Partner closely with autonomy, controls, and aircraft teams to ensure simulation fidelity and validation alignment.
• Establish technical direction, architecture standards, and performance benchmarks for simulation.
• Mentor and grow a small team of simulation engineers while remaining deeply hands-on.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in robotics or physics-based simulation.
• Deep expertise in simulator internals, including:
  • Numerical integration methods
  • Rigid-body dynamics and contact modeling
  • Constraint solving formulations
  • Collision detection algorithms
  • Rendering pipelines and sensor simulation
  • Performance tradeoffs and large-scale optimization
• Experience integrating simulation environments with robotics autonomy stacks.
• Proven experience architecting complex technical systems from scratch.
• Demonstrated technical leadership as a Principal Engineer or equivalent senior technical role.
• Strong system-level thinking with the ability to balance fidelity, scalability, and development velocity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience implementing a simulator from scratch (professional or personal projects).
• Familiarity with modern robotics simulators such as MuJoCo, Gazebo, Isaac, Newton, Genesis, or similar frameworks.
• Published research in robotics simulation, dynamics, or related areas.
• Hands-on experience building and operating robotic or UAV systems.
• Experience with aerospace, UAV flight dynamics, or safety-critical autonomous systems.
• Experience deploying simulation infrastructure in cloud environments for large-scale distributed testing.

Pay

The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the range of $198,600—$292,000 USD, determined based on job-related factors including skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. Base salary is localized according to an employee’s work location. Ranges are market-dependent and may be modified in the future. In addition to base salary, the compensation for this role includes opportunities for equity grants.

Benefits

DoorDash offers a comprehensive benefits package to all regular employees, including:

• 401(k) plan with employer matching
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave
• Wellness benefits
• Commuter benefits match
• Paid time off and paid sick leave in compliance with applicable laws
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 11 paid holidays
• Disability and basic life insurance
• Family-forming assistance
• Mental health program

About DoorDash

At DoorDash, our mission to empower local economies shapes how our team members move quickly, learn, and reiterate to make impactful decisions that display empathy for our range of users—from Dashers to merchant partners to consumers. We are a technology and logistics company that started by enabling door-to-door delivery and are now looking to expand into any and all goods. DoorDash is growing rapidly and changing constantly, offering team members opportunities to share unique perspectives, solve new challenges, and own their careers.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to growing and empowering a more inclusive community within our company, industry, and cities. We hire and cultivate diverse teams of people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, believing that true innovation happens when everyone has a seat at the table and the tools, resources, and opportunity to excel. We strive to prevent all forms of inappropriate behavior, from blatant discrimination to subtler forms like stereotyping, ensuring that barriers to success have no place at DoorDash.

We value a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from women, non-binary or gender non-conforming individuals, LGBTQIA+ individuals, American Indians or Native Alaskans, Black or African Americans, Hispanic or Latinx individuals, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, differently-abled individuals, caretakers and parents, and veterans.