Machine Learning Intern (PhD) - Summer 2026

DoorDash USA • Sunnyvale, CA

3d

About The Position

As a Machine Learning Engineer intern at Doordash, you’ll work on tackling new challenges in machine learning and artificial intelligence. You’ll conduct research that can be applied across Doordash engineering teams and engage in external collaborations and mentoring, while also performing research in any of the following areas: Auction, Game theory, Recommender systems, Ranking, AdTech, Computer Vision, Causal Inference, and Big data analytics. We offer a 12-week summer internship program in our San Francisco, Sunnyvale, New York, or Seattle offices.

Requirements

• Are working towards a PhD degree in Computer Science, ML, NLP, Statistics, Information Sciences or related field and are graduating between Fall 2026 & Summer 2027
• Have a mastery of at least one systems languages (Java, C++, Python, Kotlin, GoLang) or one ML framework (Tensorflow, Pytorch, MLFlow)
• Have experience in research and in solving analytical problems
• Are a strong communicator and team player.
• Have a passion for applied ML and the Doordash product
• Must be comfortable regularly exercising discretion and independent judgment in performing job duties, including evaluating options, making informed decisions, and determining appropriate courses of action within the scope of assigned responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

• Ideally have worked on publications in machine learning, AI, data science, data analytics, statistics, or related technical fields

Responsibilities

• Use cutting-edge research in ML/AI, NLP, RecSys, Ranking, Computer Vision, Causal Inference, Ad Tech, Graph analysis to solve real-world problems across discovery, ads,forecasting, fulfillment and search experiences at Doordash.
• Contribute and execute on research ideas that can be applied and used to improve product experience at Doordash.
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize findings from data and use these insights to build relevant ML models.
• Write clean, efficient, and sustainable code

Benefits

• 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)
• medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 11 paid holidays
• disability and basic life insurance
• family-forming assistance
• a mental health program

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree