Software Engineer, Backend - DoorDash Air

DoorDash; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

401(k) plan

Parental leave (16 weeks)

Wellness benefits

Commuter benefits

Paid time off

Medical, dental and vision

Job summary

DoorDash Labs is seeking an experienced software engineer to design and deploy backend systems for autonomous drone delivery. You will work on path planning, real-time fleet management, and airspace awareness, building scalable, secure infrastructure for a robotics-enabled logistics platform.

The role requires strong experience in backend software, robotics simulations, and distributed systems, with proficiency in C++ or Kotlin and familiarity with REST APIs and networking protocols.

Qualifications

• Degree in CS/Robotics/Aerospace or related field.
• 6+ years as a software engineer with backend/robotics focus.
• Experience with path planning algorithms and robotics simulations.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement backend services for autonomous drone delivery with path planning and fleet management.
• Develop scalable, fault-tolerant systems for drone operations.
• Create simulations and testing frameworks for robotics algorithms.
• Improve performance, reliability, and security of drone backend systems.

Skills

Backend systems

Path planning

Robotics simulations

REST APIs

Distributed systems

C++

Kotlin

Networking protocols

SQL/NoSQL

Education

BS/MS/PhD in CS/Robotics/Aerospace

Tools

ROS

AWS

Kubernetes

Docker

Postgres

Kafka

gRPC

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 cutting-edge technology to solve complex problems and enhance delivery experiences for millions of users, we want to talk to you!

The Drone Delivery team is focused on bringing the dream of fast, efficient, and delightful last mile delivery through the air to life. As one of the leaders in this space, we believe strongly in the promise of combining advanced robotics, aviation, and operational innovation to bring this high flying technology into our 3-sided marketplace. We are a team of doers, heavily focused on bringing our products and visions to market.

About The Role

We’re expanding the drone team! Are you an engineer passionate about using UAV technology to reimagine logistics? Do you thrive in developing and deploying state-of-the‑art systems in real‑world environments? Do you love getting your hands dirty and turning large visions into practical realities? If so, we want to talk to you!

You’re Excited About This Opportunity Because You Will…

• Design and implement backend services for autonomous drone delivery that integrates with core DoorDash data, focusing on intelligent path planning, real-time fleet management, and dynamic airspace awareness.
• Develop and maintain robust, scalable, and fault‑tolerant systems to manage a fleet of delivery drones, ensuring safe and efficient operations.
• Implement simulations and testing frameworks to validate the performance and reliability of path planning algorithms.
• Improve performance, reliability, scalability, and security for our drone backend systems, with a particular emphasis on ensuring safe and compliant drone operations.
• Introduce tools and best practices to accelerate our drone development process and ensure adherence to aviation regulations.

We’re Excited About You Because You Have…

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 6+ years of industry experience as a software engineer, with a focus on backend systems, robotics, or autonomous systems.
• Strong experience in developing and implementing algorithms for path planning.
• Experience with simulations and testing frameworks for robotics or autonomous systems.
• Experience with either Kotlin, or C++.
• Ability to improve efficiency, scalability, and stability of distributed systems, especially in a real‑time operational context.
• Experience with service‑oriented architecture, writing REST APIs, unit testing, and architectural design.
• Understanding of networking and communication protocols relevant to robotics and IoT (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP, MQTT).
• Experience with SQL or NoSQL databases.
• Familiarity with aviation regulations and safety standards (e.g., FAA Part 107) is a strong plus.

Nice to Have

Experience With These Technologies Is Not Required But Helpful.

• Familiarity with Kotlin
• gRPC, Kafka, Redis, Postgres, or Cassandra
• AWS, Kubernetes, Docker
• Experience with ROS (Robot Operating System) or other robotics middleware
• Familiarity with geospatial data and mapping technologies (GIS)

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 ranges for this position within the United States, including Illinois and Colorado.

I4

$130,600—$192,000 USD

I5

$159,800—$235,000 USD

I6

$193,800—$285,000 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. 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.