About this role
About the Team
DoorDash Labs is an independent robotics and automation team within DoorDash, focused on transforming last-mile logistics at scale. Our work reaches millions of people — and we're building the operational foundation to make that possible safely.
About the Role
As Manager of Operational Safety, you will lead the team responsible for safety systems, incident response, and SOP governance across DoorDash Labs' autonomous products. You will set strategy, build and develop a team of safety specialists, and partner with engineering and product leadership to ensure safety is embedded into every phase of development. This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of operational rigor and cutting-edge autonomy.
You're excited about this opportunity because...
• Lead and grow the safety team — hire, develop, and manage a team of operations safety specialists across remote and on-site functions
• Set SOP strategy — own the design, governance, and continuous improvement of standard operating procedures; drive compliance across all Labs programs
• Own safety analytics & reporting — establish metrics and KPIs for operational safety; present trends, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership
• Lead incident command — oversee critical incident triage and resolution; ensure root cause analysis and corrective action processes are rigorous and timely
• Drive cross-functional safety programs — partner with engineering, product, legal, and field operations to build safety into product design, launches, and scale
• Represent safety externally — engage with regulators, partners, and customers on safety standards and compliance as needed
We're excited about you because...
Required
• 7+ years in operations, safety, or a related field — autonomy, robotics, aerospace, or defense experience strongly preferred
• 2+ years managing or leading teams, with a track record of developing talent and building high-performing functions
• Proven experience designing and scaling safety or operational systems in a regulated or safety-critical environment
• Executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and present complex risk data clearly
• Strong analytical mindset; comfortable with ambiguity and fast-changing priorities
• Participate in on-call rotation and promptly respond to on-call events with urgency and rigor on nights and weekends.
Preferred
• Deep familiarity with safety management systems (SMS), ISO 45001, or equivalent frameworks
• Proven track record in designing, developing, and deploying comprehensive training programs and instructional materials.
• Experience with autonomous systems, robotics deployment, or fleet operations at scale
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Jira, and SQL
Why This Role
• Build and lead the safety function at one of the most ambitious autonomy teams in tech
• Direct influence over systems that affect millions of real-world interactions
• Hi