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 an experienced and hands-on Head of Autonomy to lead the architecture, design, and implementation of our complete autonomous system for last-mile delivery. You will be responsible for the entire autonomy stack. The ideal candidate has a deep background in robotics and autonomous systems and is not afraid to get into the code. This is a key leadership role where you will set the technical vision and roadmap, making critical decisions to build a safe, reliable, and scalable solution that will redefine the future of delivery.

You're excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Lead the Charge: Lead, mentor, and grow a world-class team of autonomy and software engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, excellence, and agility.
• Define the Vision: Architect and own the technical vision and strategic roadmap for the entire autonomy stack, from perception and sensor fusion to planning, navigation, and control.
• Build for Reliability: Drive the architecture of a highly reliable, fault-tolerant, and performant software system designed for mission-critical operations in complex, real-world environments.
• Roll Up Your Sleeves & Code: Dive deep into the codebase to architect, implement, and optimize critical components of the autonomy stack, leading by example through direct, hands-on technical contribution.
• Oversee Technical Excellence: Guide the entire development lifecycle of the system's autonomous capabilities, instilling best practices in software engineering, system integration, and safety-critical design.
• Solve the Hardest Problems: Direct the design and implementation of advanced algorithms for decision-making, path planning, and behavioral responses in dynamic and unpredictable situations.
• Guarantee Performance: Establish and enforce rigorous testing, validation, and verification processes to ensure the autonomy system is robust, safe, and performs reliably in high-stakes scenarios.
• Collaborate and Integrate: Work closely with cross-functional leaders across hardware, systems, and product teams to deliver a seamlessly integrated and industry-leading autonomous solution.
• Drive Future Innovation: Stay at the forefront of advancements in robotics, AI, and autonomous systems, championing the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that provide a competitive advantage.

We're excited about you because… 

• You hold an M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• You have 10+ years of industry experience designing and deploying autonomy software for complex robotic systems, with a proven track record of shipping products.
• You have direct, hands-on experience developing software for systems that must operate in high-reliability or safety-critical situations (e.g., aerospace, defense, autonomous vehicles, medical robotics).
• You possess a deep, systems-level understanding of the entire autonomy stack, from low-level sensor processing and perception to high-level decision-making and control architecture.
• You have demonstrable experience developing for and deploying on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) / drones.

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).

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.