Robotics Software Engineer - Labs, DoorDash Air

About the Team DoorDash Labs is an independent team within DoorDash. We explore robotics and automation to transform last-mile logistics in the long term. If you have experience applying the latest technology and enhance delivery experiences for millions of users, we want to talk to you. The Drone Delivery team is focused on bringing the dream of fast, efficient, and delightful last-mile delivery through the air to life. As one of the leaders in this space, we believe in the promise of combining advanced robotics, aviation, and operational innovation to bring this high-flying technology into our 3-sided marketplace. We are a team focused on bringing our products and visions to market. About the Role We're expanding the drone team! We're looking for engineers passionate about leveraging UAV technology to reimagine logistics. This role focuses on developing and deploying state-of-the-art systems in real-world environments, transforming bold visions into practical solutions. If you're ready to push the boundaries of innovation, we’d love to connect. This position will report to Engineering Management within DoorDash Labs. You're excited about this opportunity because you will… Design and deploy software for advanced drone hardware, promoting autonomous flight capabilities and delivery operations. Work at the intersection of software, hardware, and robotics, building applications that run on a real-time capable robotics platform and interface with multiple drone sensors and actuators. Develop and integrate algorithms for onboard perception, sensor fusion, state estimation, and control using data from different drone sensors (e.g., IMU, GPS, camera, and lidar). Use ROS/ROS 2 to build modular robotic applications for autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and payload management. Implement communication protocols to promote seamless data exchange between the drone, ground control stations, and cloud backend systems. Conduct rigorous testing and debugging of on-drone software using simulations, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) setups, and real-world flight testing. Collaborate with backend and infrastructure teams to provide a cohesive and integrated drone delivery ecosystem. Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in drone technology and robotics. We're excited about you because…  A degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. 5+ years of industry experience in software development for robotics or autonomous systems Proficiency in C/C++ and Python. Experience with ROS/ROS 2. Familiarity with sensor integration and data processing techniques. Experience with debugging tools and techniques for robotic systems. Experience with robotics, drones, and autonomous systems. Must be comfortable regularly exercising discretion and independent judgment in performing job duties, including evaluating options, making informed decisions, and determining appropriate courses of action within the scope of assigned responsibilities.   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 a