Staff Security Engineer, DoorDash Labs - Air

DoorDash USA; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 194,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

401(k) plan

Paid parental leave

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off and sick leave

Job summary

DoorDash Labs - Air is seeking a Staff Security Engineer to own the security strategy for our drone fleet, ground and docking infrastructure, and the software that connects them. This role is based in the San Francisco Bay Area with in-office presence once a week and periodic travel to test sites.

You will work with engineering, hardware, and operations teams to secure IoT/robotic platforms, review RFCs, and drive security outcomes through hands-on engineering and leadership.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of security engineering experience, with depth securing IoT or robotic platforms.
• Hands-on experience with drone security and drone authentication systems.
• Strong networking fundamentals and experience with VPN/mesh tools.
• Ability to work autonomously while coordinating across cross-functional teams.
• Experience reviewing RFCs and design documents for security feedback.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the security strategy for drone delivery systems and related infrastructure.
• Secure drone firmware, onboard software, and hardware security measures.
• Secure nests and ground infrastructure and design secure networking across all components.
• Provide early security guidance in design docs and RFC reviews.
• Visit test/production sites quarterly to assess controls and build on-site relationships.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Security, GRC, and Engineering leadership to align posture.

Skills

IoT security

Robotics security

Networking fundamentals

Python

Go

Autonomous systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

AWS

GCP

Terraform

Job description

Staff Security Engineer, DoorDash Labs - Air

About the Team

At DoorDash we’re building the industry’s most scalable and reliable delivery network to support our three-sided marketplace of consumers, merchants, and Dashers. DoorDash Labs is an independent team within DoorDash pioneering new delivery modalities including Air, our drone delivery program. If you have a passion for applying autonomous aviation technologies in a service used by millions of people, then we want to talk to you!

About the Role

Our team is looking for a Staff Security Engineer who will act as the primary security partner to DoorDash Labs - Air, our drone delivery program. This role owns the security strategy for our fleet of drones, ground infrastructure, and the software and networks that connect them. We’re looking for a highly technical, hands‑on security engineer with deep experience securing IoT or robotic platforms, who can work independently and coordinate across engineering, hardware, and operations teams to drive security objectives and validation. This role is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with the expectation of coming into the office once a week, and periodic travel to test and production sites.

You’re excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Own and drive the security strategy for drone delivery including drone authentication systems, ensuring only trusted drones and operators can access DoorDash Labs - Air systems and networks.
• Secure the physical and software layers of our drones and drone infrastructure, from firmware and onboard software to the physical hardware itself.
• Secure the physical and software layers of our nests (drone docking and charging infrastructure) and related ground infrastructure.
• Design and implement secure networking architecture across drone, nest, and ground systems.
• Review RFCs and design documents for new Air features and infrastructure, providing security guidance early in the development lifecycle.
• Visit test or production sites at least once a quarter to assess security controls, validate deployed systems, and build relationships with on‑site teams.
• Partner with Enterprise Security, GRC, and Engineering leadership to ensure Air’s security posture aligns with DoorDash’s broader security strategy.
• Establish clear, measurable metrics to track the security posture and risk reduction of the Air program over time.

We’re excited about you because…

• 8+ years of security engineering experience, with meaningful depth securing IoT or robotic platforms.
• Hands‑on experience with drone security, including drone authentication and the physical and software security of drones and their supporting infrastructure.
• Strong networking fundamentals, including VPN/mesh networking tools such as Tailscale.
• Proven ability to work autonomously while coordinating across cross-functional teams (engineering, hardware, operations) to drive schedules and validate security outcomes.
• Experience reviewing RFCs and design documents, providing actionable, risk-based security feedback.
• Willingness and ability to travel to test or production sites at least once a quarter.
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the San Francisco Bay Area, with the ability to come into the office once a week.
• Proficient in scripting/programming languages (e.g., Python, Go) for security tooling and automation.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP) and infrastructure-as-code tooling such as Terraform.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical security risk and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Cybersecurity, Electrical/Robotics Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

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

$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.