Drone Operations, Intern - Labs (Summer 2027)

Blue Line Search Group; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 107,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer matching

Paid parental leave (16 weeks)

Wellness benefits

Commuter benefits match

Paid time off & paid sick leave

Job summary

DoorDash Labs is seeking a Drone Operations Intern to support daily flight operations across test and commercial flights. You will rotate through pilots, maintenance, quality/safety, and engineering, gaining end-to-end exposure to our drone program.

In the first month you will learn procedures and safety practices, and by 90 days you will own a project improving flight safety, reliability, or efficiency. This is a summer internship as we scale our drone operations.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Aviation Studies or equivalent.
• Graduating between Fall 2027 and Summer 2028.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required or willingness to obtain.
• Hands-on experience building, flying, or maintaining drones or RC aircraft.
• Field environment work with variable weather and outdoor exposure.
• Clear communication and adherence to safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Support daily flight operations for DoorDash’s drone program.
• Rotate among Pilots, Maintenance Technicians, Quality/Safety and Engineering.
• Learn flight procedures and safety practices in the first 30 days.
• Own a summer intern project and present results to the team.
• Assist field operations at flight sites including aircraft setup and recovery.

Skills

Drone operations

Safety procedures

Field work

Communication

Education

B.S./M.S. in Aviation Studies or equivalent

Graduating Fall 2027 – Summer 2028

Tools

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Job description

About the Team

DoorDash Labs is an independent team within DoorDash. The Drone Operations team keeps DoorDash's drones airworthy and operates them safely. Our missions range from experimental test flights to commercial delivery. We're hiring Drone Operations interns to work at the intersection of operations and robotics to solve key business problems with elegant technical solutions. If you have a passion for applying robotics solutions to a service loved by millions of people, then we want to talk to you!

About the Role

As a Drone Operations Intern, you will support daily flight operations for DoorDash’s drone delivery program, from our test flight program to our commercial operation. You will get exposure to all elements of our operation, including Pilots, Maintenance Technicians, Quality/Safety, and Engineering. You will rotate around our facilities and get an end-to-end view of our program. In your first 30 days, you will learn our flight procedures and safety practices. By 90 days, you will own a project that improves flight safety, reliability, or efficiency. Success means the team adopts your work and our operations measurably improve. It is an exciting time to join as we scale from test flights to commercial delivery.You will report into the Head of Drone Operations on our Drone Operations team in our Labs organization. You’re excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Work with pilots, technicians, and engineers to troubleshoot issues and improve procedures.
• Review flight logs and mission data to find trends in safety, reliability, and delivery performance.
• Help run field operations at flight sites, including aircraft setup, loading, and recovery.
• Own an intern project and present your results to the team at the end of summer.

Qualifications

• You are pursuing a B.S. or M.S. Degree in Aviation Studies or equivalent, have no more than 2 years of full-time work experience, and are graduating between Fall 2027 to Summer 2028.
• You are available for a May or June 2027 start date (Internships are only hosted during the Summer).
• You hold, or are willing to obtain, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• You have hands-on experience building, flying, or maintaining drones or radio-controlled (RC) aircraft.
• You can operate in field environments with extended periods of standing, repetitive drone handling, and outdoor exposure to varying weather (heat, dust, cold, wind, etc.).
• You communicate clearly and follow safety procedures carefully.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis.

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.$107,400—$158,000 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.

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