Autonomous Robotics Testing Lead

DoorDash; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job description

About The Team

DoorDash Labs is an independent team within DoorDash. We explore robotics and automation to transform last-mile logistics in the long term. If you have a passion for applying robotics solutions in a service used by millions of people, then we want to talk to you!

About The Role

We're looking for an experienced technical operator to lead live testing, deployment, and operational validation of cutting‑edge autonomous technologies. This role sits at the intersection of engineering and operations, helping ensure new capabilities are safely deployed, thoroughly evaluated, and translated into actionable engineering feedback.

You’re Excited About This Opportunity Because You Will…

• Lead and oversee live testing across transport, deployment, and safety validation.
• Partner closely with hardware, software, and business operations teams to validate new product capabilities while providing guidance and mentorship to junior team members.
• Conduct and document complex tests for autonomous technologies, evaluating robot behavior, identifying issues, and validating new features and requirements. Provide actionable technical feedback to engineering teams based on test outcomes.
• Exercise technical judgment during live testing by evaluating robot behavior, assessing operational risk, distinguishing expected behavior from product defects, and determining when engineering escalation or additional validation is required.
• Develop and implement testing processes, protocols, and checklists that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of new products.
• Utilize internal tools to analyze logs, investigate issues, document findings, and track issues through resolution. Mentor junior team members in structured debugging and documentation practices.
• Conduct detailed analyses and generate comprehensive reports that identify trends, summarize findings, and provide strategic recommendations to engineering and operations partners.

We’re Excited About You Because…

• 2+ years of experience, or a demonstrated strong background, in autonomous vehicle, robotics, or complex systems testing within a live operational environment.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound technical judgment, troubleshoot complex system behaviors, and make informed decisions in dynamic, real‑world scenarios.
• Experience partnering closely with engineering teams to investigate issues, communicate technical findings, and influence product improvements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document findings and present technical recommendations to cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Experience using tools such as Linux, GitHub, Jira, Jenkins, or similar platforms to investigate issues, analyze system behavior, and track work through resolution.
• Demonstrated ownership, leadership, and the ability to mentor junior team members while driving operational excellence.
• Comfort working in ambiguous environments where processes are evolving and continuous improvement is expected.

Compensation

Actual compensation within the pay range listed below will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, skills, prior relevant experience, and specific work location. Base salary is localized according to employee work location.

DoorDash cares about you and your overall well‑being. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to all regular employees, which includes a 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 (e.g. Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act). DoorDash also offers medical, dental, and vision benefits, 11 paid holidays, disability and basic life insurance, family‑forming assistance, and a mental health program, among others.

To learn more about our benefits, visit our careers page here.

See Below For Paid Time Off Details

• For salaried roles: flexible paid time off/vacation, plus 80 hours of paid sick time per year.
• For hourly roles: vacation accrued at about 1 hour for every 25.97 hours worked (e.g. about 6.7 hours/month if working 40 hours/week; about 3.4 hours/month if working 20 hours/week), and paid sick time accrued at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked (e.g. about 5.8 hours/month if working 40 hours/week; about 2.9 hours/month if working 20 hours/week).

The national base pay range for this position within the United States, including Illinois and Colorado.

$28.40—$41.80 USD

About DoorDash

At DoorDash, our mission to empower local economies shapes how our team members move quickly, learn, and reiterate in order 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 we are looking for team members who can help us go from a company that is known as the place you order food to a company that people turn to for any and all goods.

DoorDash is growing rapidly and changing constantly, which gives our team members the opportunity to share their unique perspectives, solve new challenges, and own their careers. We're committed to supporting employees’ happiness, healthiness, and overall well‑being by providing comprehensive benefits and perks including premium healthcare, wellness expense reimbursement, paid parental leave and more.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to growing and empowering a more inclusive community within our company, industry, and cities. That’s why we hire and cultivate diverse teams of people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that true innovation happens when everyone has room at the table and the tools, resources, and opportunity to excel.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

In keeping with our beliefs and goals, no employee or applicant will face discrimination or harassment based on: race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, or veteran status. Above and beyond discrimination and harassment based on “protected categories,” we also strive to prevent other subtler forms of inappropriate behavior (i.e., stereotyping) from ever gaining a foothold in our office. Whether blatant or hidden, barriers to success have no place at DoorDash. We value a diverse workforce – people who identify as women, non-binary or gender non-conforming, LGBTQIA+, American Indian or Native Alaskan, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, differently‑abled, caretakers and parents, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Thank you to the Level Playing Field Institute for this statement of non-discrimination.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.

If you need any accommodations, please inform your recruiting contact upon initial connection.