$198.6K – $292K/yr
Role Overview We are seeking a Staff Simulation Engineer to build an end-to-end aerial autonomy simulation stack at DoorDash Labs. This is a highly technical, hands-on leadership role focused on defining and implementing the simulation architecture that underpins autonomy development, validation, CI/CD testing, and pilot training. You will operate as the technical authority for simulation: owning core architecture decisions, developing key components yourself, and setting engineering standards. You will build and mentor a small, high-caliber simulation team while remaining deeply involved in implementation and system design. This role is ideal for someone who has built simulation systems from first principles, understands simulator internals deeply, and is excited to create a world-class platform from scratch. Key Responsibilities Architect and implement an end-to-end simulation stack for aerial autonomy at DoorDash Labs.. Develop high-fidelity simulation capabilities, including: Flight dynamics modeling Contact modeling and constraint handling Sensor and perception simulation Autonomy software-in-the-loop (SITL) integration Design and implement scalable simulation infrastructure to support: Regression testing in CI/CD pipelines Continuous validation of flight autonomy and autopilot software stack Mission-level testing and scenario generation Build cloud-deployed simulation systems to enable large-scale parallel testing and pilot training. Partner closely with autonomy, controls, and aircraft teams to ensure simulation fidelity and validation alignment. Establish technical direction, architecture standards, and performance benchmarks for simulation. Mentor and grow a small team of simulation engineers while remaining deeply hands-on. Required Qualifications Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. 10+ years of experience in robotics or physics-based simulation. Deep expe