Senior Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Consumer

DoorDash; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 242,800 - 357,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with employer matching

Health, dental, and vision benefits

16 weeks paid parental leave

Flexible paid time off

Job summary

DoorDash is seeking a Senior Staff Machine Learning Engineer to lead the personalization strategy for consumer shopping. In this role, you will leverage robust data and machine learning infrastructure to create relevant and delightful search experiences across different business sectors.

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in developing machine learning models and leading technical projects. You will be responsible for guiding teams and implementing innovative solutions that enhance our recommendation system.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of industry experience developing machine learning models with business impact and shipping ML solutions to production.
• Proficiency in using AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code) throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Deep expertise in deep learning and fine-tuning; hands-on experience optimizing LLM systems.

Responsibilities

• Drive the engineering vision and strategy for an organization of 150+.
• Grow and mentor impactful business-focused product engineering teams.
• Partner with Business and Product teams to transform DoorDash's commerce approach.

Skills

Machine learning models

Deep learning

AI coding tools

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science or equivalent

Job description

About The Role

As a Senior Staff Machine Learning Engineer on Core Cx, you will set the personalization (P13n) strategy for the entire consumer shopping journey and bring that strategy to life. You will use our robust data and machine learning infrastructure to implement new ML solutions that make the consumer search experience more relevant, seamless, and delightful across restaurant, grocery, retail and all business at DoorDash. You will modernize the recommendation system leveraging AI, demonstrate strong command of production‑level machine learning, solve end‑user problems, and collaborate well with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive the engineering vision, strategy, and execution for an organization of 150+
• Grow, build, and nurture impactful business‑focused product engineering teams; scale the team by developing leaders internally and attracting world‑class talent
• Mentor and guide a fast‑growing organization in setting the right architectural patterns, working with vendors, and making judicious investments to anticipate future needs
• Partner with Business, Product, and other Engineering teams to transform DoorDash from local commerce to agentic commerce

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science or equivalent
• 10+ years of industry experience developing machine learning models with business impact and shipping ML solutions to production
• Proficiency in using AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code) throughout the software development lifecycle—designing, generating code, testing, monitoring, and releasing software
• Proven ability to drive multi‑quarter technical roadmaps as a technical lead with clear ownership of architectural decisions
• Deep expertise in deep learning and fine‑tuning; hands‑on experience optimizing LLM systems, fine‑tuning, advanced prompting strategies, and structuring JSON/tool‑calling outputs
• Strong technical intuition paired with the ability to influence and align cross‑functional stakeholders
• Humility and growth mindset, leading through expertise and collaboration, not hierarchy

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.

The national base pay range for this position within the United States, including Illinois and Colorado, is $242,800—$357,000 USD.

Benefits

DoorDash cares about you and your overall well‑being. 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). We also offer medical, dental, and vision benefits, 11 paid holidays, disability and basic life insurance, family‑forming assistance, and a mental health program, among others.

Paid Time Off

• 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).

EEO Statement

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.

Additional Legal Information

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.