Senior Structural Simulation Engineer – Robotics Platform

DoorDash, Inc.; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer matching

16 weeks paid parental leave

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

11 paid holidays

Job summary

DoorDash Labs seeks a Senior Structural Simulation Engineer to own FEA across a next-generation robotic platform. You will drive early architectural exploration, establish load cases, and shape the software ecosystem for simulation tools, emphasizing ANSYS-based workflows.

You will progress from rapid concept modeling to production-intent refinement, collaborating with design, test, and leadership to push strength while minimizing weight and ensuring reliability in dynamic environments.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on structural FEA and mechanical simulation experience (or 4+ years with MS/PhD) focused on structural integrity, stiffness, fatigue life, and dynamic loading.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural concept validation for a ground-up robotic platform, running high-velocity trade studies with chassis, suspension, and closures engineers.
• Evaluate, select, and operationalize the primary CAE/FEA software stack (ANSSYS-based) and negotiate capabilities with vendors.
• Formulate first-principles structural load cases, fatigue histories, stiffness benchmarks, and failure criteria for dynamic ground vehicle environments with limited historical data.
• Execute static, dynamic, modal, durability, and fatigue analyses on enclosures, subframes, linkages, and moving mechanisms.
• Correlate strain gauge and dynamic test data back into models to maximize predictive accuracy.
• Influence architecture by guiding design decisions to optimize strength-to-weight before tooling.

Skills

Structural FEA

Robotics systems

ANSYS

First-principles mechanics

Early-stage ownership

Cross-functional communication

Tools

ANSYS Mechanical/Workbench

Job description

DoorDash Labs seeks a Senior Structural Simulation Engineer to own FEA across a next-generation robotic platform. You will drive early architectural exploration, establish load cases, and shape the software ecosystem for simulation tools, emphasizing ANSYS-based workflows.

You will progress from rapid concept modeling to production-intent refinement, collaborating with design, test, and leadership to push strength while minimizing weight and ensuring reliability in dynamic environments.