Principal Simulation Engineer

About the Role We are seeking a Principal, Head of Simulation to architect and 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 expertise in simulator internals, including: Numerical integration methods Rigid-body dynamics and contact modeling Constraint solving formulations Collision detection algorithms Rendering pipelines and sensor simulation Performance tradeoffs and large-scale optimization Experience integrating simulation environments with robotics autonomy stacks. Proven experience architecting complex technical systems from scratch. Demonstrated technical leadership as a Principal Engineer or equivalent senior technical role. Strong system-level thinking with the ability to balance fidelity, scalability, and development velocity. Preferred Qualifications Experience implementing a simulator from scratch (professional or personal projects). Familiarity with modern robotics simulators such as MuJoCo, Gazebo, Isaac, Newton, Genesis, or similar frameworks. Published research in robotics simulation, dynamics, or related areas. Hands-on experience building and operating robotic or UAV systems. Experience with aerospace, UAV flight dynamics, or safety-critical autonomous systems. Experience deploying simulation infrastructure in cloud environments for large-scale distributed testing. 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 ... (truncated, view full listing at source)