Mechanical Engineer - Labs

DoorDash; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

DoorDash is looking for a highly motivated Mechanical Engineer to join their innovative Labs team in San Francisco. The role focuses on designing and developing mechanical systems for unmanned platforms, with responsibilities spanning from CAD modeling to FEA analysis. You'll work with a multidisciplinary group to ensure product robustness and facilitate efficient manufacturing processes. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in mechanical engineering, particularly in fast-paced environments, and hold a strong command of CAD tools.

Benefits

401(k) plan with employer matching

Paid parental leave

Wellness benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits

Flexible paid time off and sick leave

Qualifications

• 8+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience, preferably in robotics or aerospace.
• Strong proficiency in CAD tools and FEA tools.
• Experience in high-volume and safety-critical environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, prototyping, and testing of mechanical systems.
• Conduct and interpret Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for design validation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams.

Skills

Mechanical Design

Structural Analysis

CAD

Rapid Prototyping

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Abaqus

Job description

Join to apply for the Mechanical Engineer - Labs role at DoorDash

Join to apply for the Mechanical Engineer - Labs role at DoorDash

About The Team

DoorDash Labs, established in 2018, serves as the innovation hub for DoorDash, focusing on developing automation and robotics solutions to enhance last-mile logistics. The team's mission is to create technologies that support and augment human networks, aiming to improve efficiency for Dashers, merchants, and consumers alike. We’re ruthlessly focused on business impact. We are a highly senior team composed of former pioneers from a variety of different robotics industries. As of 2025, DoorDash has completed 10B lifetime deliveries. We’re focused on how to do the next 10B even better.

About The Team

DoorDash Labs, established in 2018, serves as the innovation hub for DoorDash, focusing on developing automation and robotics solutions to enhance last-mile logistics. The team's mission is to create technologies that support and augment human networks, aiming to improve efficiency for Dashers, merchants, and consumers alike. We’re ruthlessly focused on business impact. We are a highly senior team composed of former pioneers from a variety of different robotics industries. As of 2025, DoorDash has completed 10B lifetime deliveries. We’re focused on how to do the next 10B even better.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior/Staff Mechanical Engineer to join our multidisciplinary team. This individual will play a critical role in the design, development, and validation of mechanical systems and components for our unmanned platforms. The ideal candidate has a strong background in mechanical design, structural analysis (FEA), CAD, and rapid prototyping, with a proven track record of delivering robust and elegant solutions in fast-paced and high rate production environments.

You're Excited About This Opportunity Because You Will…

• Lead the design, analysis, prototyping, and testing of mechanical systems, structures, and mechanisms.
• Own subsystems from concept through production, including CAD modeling, drawing generation, and documentation.
• Conduct and interpret Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to ensure mechanical robustness and performance.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including electrical, software, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration of mechanical designs.
• Support assembly, integration, and validation of prototype and production systems.
• Drive design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) in partnership with internal and external manufacturing teams.
• Take initiative in identifying technical risks, proposing solutions, and contributing to the product roadmap.
  
  

We're Excited About You Because…

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 8+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience, preferably in robotics, aerospace, automotive, or other high volume and safety critical environment.
• You build. You know your way around a shop and are very capable in it.
• Strong proficiency in CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, NX, or equivalent) and drawing standards like GD&T.
• Deep understanding of materials, fasteners, tolerancing, and thermal/structural considerations.
• Proficiency with FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, SolidWorks Simulation) and experience applying analysis to inform designs.
• Experience taking products from concept to production in fast-paced, high-ownership environments.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications…

• You’ve shipped hardware at scale in a safety critical application
• Thrive in high-integrity, fast-paced, high-stakes engineering environments
• You are an engineer in your personal life and have the projects to prove it
• Have worked with in house and contract manufacturing teams
• Are obsessed with craftsmanship
• Live and breathe extreme ownership
  
  

Notice to Applicants for Jobs Located in NYC or Remote Jobs Associated With Office in NYC Only

We use Covey as part of our hiring and/or promotional process for jobs in NYC and certain features may qualify it as an AEDT in NYC. As part of the hiring and/or promotion process, we provide Covey with job requirements and candidate submitted applications. We began using Covey Scout for Inbound from August 21, 2023, through December 21, 2023, and resumed using Covey Scout for Inbound again on June 29, 2024.

The Covey tool has been reviewed by an independent auditor. Results of the audit may be viewed here: Covey

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

$109,500—$161,000 USD

I5

$134,000—$197,000 USD

I6

$161,800—$238,000 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 with door-to-door delivery, and we are looking for team members who can help us go from a company that is known for delivering 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.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Information Technology

• Industries

  Software Development

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at DoorDash by 2x

Get notified about new Mechanical Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA.

San Francisco, CA $140,000.00-$270,000.00 6 months ago

San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$200,000.00 1 month ago

San Francisco, CA $100,000.00-$115,000.00 2 weeks ago

San Carlos, CA $130,000.00-$200,000.00 1 month ago

San Francisco, CA $117,000.00-$180,000.00 5 days ago

South San Francisco, CA $85,000.00-$100,000.00 2 months ago

Mechanical Engineer — Intern (Fall 2025)

San Francisco, CA $140,000.00-$200,000.00 4 months ago

Mechanical Engineering Intern (Fall 2025)

Mechanical Engineer — Associate Program (Fall 2025)

Hayward, CA $90,000.00-$110,000.00 1 week ago

Alameda, CA $90,000.00-$120,000.00 1 week ago

San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$250,000.00 2 weeks ago

Alameda, CA $100,000.00-$130,000.00 1 week ago

San Francisco, CA $90,000.00-$140,000.00 11 hours ago

Quality Engineer - Technical Cleanliness - Battery Cell Manufacturing

Belmont, CA $124,400.00-$175,000.00 4 days ago

Mechanical Engineer - Satellite Bus Design

San Francisco, CA $120,000.00-$150,000.00 2 weeks ago

Hayward, CA $130,000.00-$170,000.00 5 days ago

San Leandro, CA $120.00-$190.00 2 months ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.