Mechanical Engineer, Structural Simulation (Oakland)

DoorDash connects customers with local businesses for delivery, from restaurants to grocery, retail and its own DashMart stores. As a Senior Structural Simulation Engineer (Level IC5), you will be the foundational structural analysis authority for DoorDash Labs. You will own structural finite element analysis (FEA) across our next-generation robotic platform, working directly on core vehicle architecture—including chassis systems, suspension, closures, and sensor enclosures.

Key responsibilities

• Lead structural concept validation for a ground-up robotic platform, running high-velocity trade studies alongside chassis, suspension
• Evaluate, select, and operationalize our primary CAE/FEA software tech stack (with an emphasis on ANSYS-based suites), negotiating capabilities
• Formulate first-principles structural load cases, fatigue histories, stiffness benchmarks
• Execute complex static, dynamic, modal, durability, and fatigue analyses on structural enclosures, cast and sheet-metal subframes, linkages
• Partner with physical test teams to correlate strain gauge, modal shaker
• Act as the math-first checkpoint for mechanical design decisions

Requirements

• 7+ years of hands-on structural FEA and mechanical simulation experience (or an advanced degree—MS/PhD—with 4+ years) focused on structural integrity
• A demonstrated track record analyzing moving vehicle architectures—such as automotive body-in-white (BIW), chassis frames, suspensions
• Software Mastery (ANSYS Preferred): You are an advanced user of industry-standard finite element solvers (ANSYS Mechanical/Workbench strongly
• Strong mathematical and classical mechanics fundamentals; you don’t just hit "solve," but can gut-check stress distributions
• Thrive in early-stage product definitions where requirements are fluid, documentation is sparse
• Clearly translate complex FEA stress tensors, fatigue curves

Location and schedule

• Onsite in Oakland, California

Salary and benefits

US base salary $139,400 to $205,000 a year. DoorDash also offers benefits; the full list is on the posting.

How to apply

Apply on the company's own site.