Embedded Software Engineer (Firmware) - DoorDash Air
Builds and owns low-level C/C++ firmware (bare-metal and RTOS) on ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers for DoorDash's drone delivery platforms, covering motor control, sensors, communications, power management, and safety-critical functions, with heavy hands-on board bring-up and debugging alongside electrical engineers.
Compensation
$168K–$247K / yr
Location
San Francisco, United States
Work setup
Onsite
Seniority
Not specified
Employment
Not specified
Experience
4+ years
Category
Embedded
Posted
Skills
ai
automation
cpp
design-patterns
embedded-linux
embedded-software
embedded-systems
firmware
freertos
i2c
linux
microcontrollers
rtos
uart
Must have
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
4+ years of hands-on embedded systems development experience
Deep expertise in bare-metal programming on ARM microcontrollers
Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded targets and firmware design patterns
Experience with hardware bring-up and low-level debugging on custom boards
Solid understanding of digital electronics, buses (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN), and embedded peripherals
Strong system-level thinking; able to work independently and own the full development cycle
Nice to have
Experience with RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr) or Embedded Linux on constrained systems
Familiarity with motor control, power systems, or battery management in robotics or automotive contexts
Experience working closely with hardware teams, reading schematics, and board-level debug
Familiarity with safety-critical systems, watchdogs, and fault handling
Comfortable in fast-paced, high-ownership environments like startups or advanced R&D teams
Full description
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.
The DoorDash Air team is bringing drone delivery to reality. To make this happen, we’re building a strong electrical team to design high reliability, high power density converters, and fault-tolerant controls electronics. Come join us to build a new class of aircrafts and deploy at scale.
About the Role
We are looking for an Embedded Software Engineer to lead the development and bring-up of ARM-based microcontroller platforms across our robotics products. This is a high-ownership role, directly responsible for building the low-level firmware that powers our platforms. You will design, implement, and validate firmware for motion control, sensor integration, communications, power management, and safety-critical functionality. This role comes with a strong expectation of hands-on board bring-up, low-level debugging, and cross-disciplinary collaboration with electrical and systems engineers.
You're excited about this opportunity because...
Own the firmware bring-up and integration for new embedded platforms (e.g. ARM Cortex-M series).
Develop and maintain bare-metal firmware and RTOS-based applications for robotic subsystems (motor control, sensors, telemetry, power systems).
Write and maintain robust, maintainable, and well-documented C/C++ code for embedded targets.
Collaborate with the electrical engineering team on hardware bring-up, schematic review, and system integration.
Lead system bringup, validation, and debug
Contribute to firmware safety, reliability, and system-level robustness.
We're excited about you because...
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
4+ years of hands-on experience in embedded systems development.
Deep expertise in bare-metal programming on ARM microcontrollers.
Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded targets and firmware design patterns.
Experience with hardware bring-up and low-level debugging on custom boards.
Embedded Software Engineer (Firmware) - DoorDash Air at DoorDash USA (San Francisco, United States) — aijobsearch
Solid understanding of digital electronics, buses (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN), and embedded peripherals.
Strong system-level thinking, with an ability to work independently and take ownership across the full development cycle.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr) or Embedded Linux on constrained systems.
Familiarity with motor control, power systems, or battery management in robotics or automotive contexts.
Experience working closely with hardware teams, reading schematics, and performing board-level debug.
Familiarity with safety-critical systems, watchdogs, and fault handling.
Comfortable working in fast-paced, high-ownership engineering environments like those found in startups or advanced R&D teams
Notice Regarding Use of AI and Automated Tools: To streamline our hiring process, DoorDash utilizes an automated recruitment tool called Gem.
How it works: Gem assists our recruiting team by evaluating job related qualifications and characteristics in connection with hiring. The tool is designed and used to support - rather than replace - human decision-making; trained personnel make final decisions with meaningful human review and oversight, and DoorDash does not use Gem or other AI-enabled tool in a manner that has the effect of subjecting applicants or employees to discrimination based on any protected characteristic or proxy or for engaging in any protected activity under applicable law.
Data Retention, Privacy & Bias Audit: Data collected during this process is retained in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy and applicable state laws. In compliance with New York City Local Law 144, the independent bias audit summary for Gem is publicly available for review at our Careers Page.
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.
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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.
$168,000—$247,000 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.
Notice to Applicants for Jobs Located in NYC or Remote Jobs Associated With Office in NYC Only
We used 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 provided Covey with job requirements and candidate submitted applications. We began using Covey Scout for Inbound from August 21, 2023, through December 21, 2023. We resumed using Covey Scout for Inbound again on June 29, 2024, and ceased using Covey Scout for Inbound on April 30, 2026.
The Covey tool has been reviewed by an independent auditor. Results of the audit may be viewed here:** . **Beware of recruitment scams: DoorDash, Deliveroo, and Wolt will never ask you to pay money or share sensitive financial information during hiring — learn more about our legitimate recruiting process at Recruitment Scam Awareness - DoorDash .