Robotics Software Engineer

About the role

DoorDash Labs is seeking a software engineer to join our drone delivery team. You will build and deploy autonomous systems to advance our last-mile logistics capabilities in real-world environments. This position places you at the forefront of integrating advanced robotics with practical logistics solutions that impact how goods move through urban and suburban landscapes. The role demands a hands-on engineer who is comfortable writing production-grade code while also thinking critically about system-level interactions and safety. You will own the development of core software components that power the perception, navigation, and control stacks essential for drone operations. Success in this position requires balancing innovation with reliability, ensuring that software not only performs well in simulation but also withstands the rigors of actual flight conditions. You will be responsible for translating high-level requirements into robust technical implementations that meet strict operational standards. Ultimately, your work will directly contribute to the advancement of autonomous delivery systems that redefine the efficiency of last-mile logistics.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design and implement software for drone hardware to support autonomous flight and delivery operations, ensuring that system architecture aligns with real-time operational demands.
• Build applications for a real-time robotics platform that interfaces with various sensors and actuators, enabling responsive and adaptive behavior.
• Develop algorithms for sensor fusion, state estimation, control, and onboard perception using IMU, GPS, camera, and lidar data to create a coherent understanding of the environment.
• Utilize ROS/ROS 2 to create modular applications for navigation, payload management, and obstacle avoidance, promoting code reusability and system maintainability.
• Establish communication protocols between drones, ground control, and cloud infrastructure to ensure seamless data flow and command execution.
• Perform testing and debugging via simulations, hardware-in-the-loop setups, and flight testing to validate software behavior under diverse scenarios.
• Coordinate with infrastructure and backend teams to maintain a unified delivery ecosystem, ensuring that software components integrate smoothly with broader platform services.
• Implement monitoring and diagnostic tools that provide insights into drone performance and health, facilitating proactive maintenance and issue resolution.
• Optimize software for resource-constrained environments, balancing computational efficiency with the need for high-fidelity processing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define and refine software requirements, translating complex technical constraints into actionable development tasks.
• Contribute to the creation of technical documentation and standards that support long-term software sustainability and team scalability.
• Drive the adoption of best practices in software engineering, including version control, code review, and continuous integration, to maintain high code quality.

Requirements

• Degree in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, providing a foundational understanding of the principles that govern autonomous systems.
• 5+ years of professional experience in autonomous systems or robotics software development, demonstrating a track record of delivering complex software solutions.
• Proficiency in Python and C/C++, enabling the development of performance-critical components and high-level logic with equal competence.
• Hands-on experience with ROS/ROS 2, showcasing the ability to work within established robotic frameworks and middleware.
• Ability to integrate sensors and process data from diverse sources, transforming raw inputs into actionable information for the control stack.
• Experience with robotic system debugging tools and methodologies, allowing for efficient identification and resolution of software anomalies.
• Must exercise independent judgment and discretion when evaluating options and making decisions within the scope of the role, particularly in situations with ambiguous requirements or competing priorities.
• Strong understanding of networking concepts and communication protocols as they apply to distributed robotic systems and edge computing environments.

Practical notes

• Compensation includes base salary and equity grants.
• Base salary ranges: I4 ($130,600 to $192,000), I5 ($159,800 to $235,000), I6 ($193,800 to $285,000).
• Benefits include 401(k) matching, 16 weeks of paid parental leave, medical/dental/vision, disability/life insurance, mental health programs, and flexible paid time off.
• The company complies with local fair chance ordinances regarding arrest and conviction records.
• For NYC-based or NYC-associated remote roles, the company uses Covey Scout for Inbound as part of the hiring process.

About the company

DoorDash is a technology company that connects consumers with local businesses. Founded in 2013, DoorDash is the largest food delivery company in the United States by market share.