Autonomy Simulation Engineer

DoorDash USA; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 199,000 - 292,000; Full time

Job summary

DoorDash Labs, the independent team within DoorDash, seeks an Autonomy Simulation Engineer to advance simulation fidelity for on-road autonomous delivery robots. You will develop production simulation software and models of robot behavior, using real-world data and repeatable experiments to calibrate and validate them.

This is a hybrid role with in-office and remote time. You will collaborate with autonomy and robotics engineers, own projects from design through validation, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Proven experience with production-grade C++ and Python.
• Experience building closed-loop or interactive simulation software.
• Ability to use real-world data and controlled experiments to calibrate/validate software models.
• Strong debugging and delivery of reliable production software in Linux environments with CI.
• Experience applying machine learning to simulation modeling is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the simulation engine and supporting software.
• Build and improve simulation models of robot behavior, other participants, and their interactions.
• Calibrate and validate simulation models against real-world behavior using controlled, repeatable experiments.
• Develop parameterized environments and synthetic scenarios to test conditions and interactions.
• Investigate differences between simulated and real-world behavior and implement improvements.
• Improve simulator reproducibility, reliability, usability, and debuggability.

Skills

C++

Python

Modeling

Simulation software

Robot dynamics

Physics

Road-user behavior

Synthetic scenario generation

Probabilistic modeling

Data-driven testing

Machine learning in simulation

Tools

Linux

Git

CI/CD

Job description

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

The Simulation team builds software, models, and environments to test on-road autonomous robot behavior and evaluate autonomy changes before deployment. We are hiring an Autonomy Simulation Engineer to improve simulation fidelity and accelerate the development and validation of autonomous delivery robots.

You will develop production simulation software and models of robot behavior and interactions with the environment, using real-world data and repeatable experiments to calibrate and validate them. Working closely with autonomy and robotics engineers, you will own projects from design through validation and report to the Simulation Lead. We expect this role to be hybrid, with some time in-office and some time remote.

You’re excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Develop and maintain the simulation engine and supporting software.
• Build and improve simulation models of robot behavior, other participants, and their interactions.
• Calibrate and validate simulation models against real-world behavior using controlled, repeatable experiments.
• Develop parameterized environments and synthetic scenarios to test conditions and interactions that are difficult to capture in the field.
• Investigate differences between simulated and real-world behavior, identify contributing model assumptions and parameters, and implement improvements.
• Improve simulator reproducibility, reliability, usability, and debuggability.

We’re excited about you because…

• You have strong production C++ and Python experience.
• You can translate real-world behavior and physical systems into practical software models.
• You have experience building closed-loop or interactive simulation software, with depth in areas such as robot dynamics, physics, road-user behavior, synthetic scenario generation, or probabilistic modeling.
• You have used real-world data and controlled, repeatable experiments to test, calibrate, or validate software models.
• You have experience debugging complex systems and delivering reliable production software using Linux, Git, automated testing, and CI.
• Experience applying machine learning to simulation modeling and validating learned models against real-world data is a plus.

Compensation

The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the pay range listed below and is determined based on job-related factors including, but not limited to, 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. Talk to your recruiter for more information.

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.

$198,600 - $292,000 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.
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.

Notice Regarding Use of AI and Automated Tools: To streamline our hiring process, DoorDash utilizes an automated recruitment tool called Metaview.

How it works:Metaview assists our recruiting team by evaluating job related qualifications and characteristics in connection with hiring. The tool is designed and used to support - rather than replace - human decision-making; trained personnel make final decisions with meaningful human review and oversight, and DoorDash does not use Metaview or other AI-enabled tool in a manner that has the effect of subjecting applicants or employees to discrimination based on any protected characteristic or proxy or for engaging in any protected activity under applicable law.