Uber reports $1B loss in first post-IPO quarterly results (arstechnica.com)

probably not. engineers only account for a very tiny portion of their entire employ base. They have a large army of operation people(for recruiting drivers, promoting, etc) and dispute/problem resolution people deployed at every city they are present. They need to work with each municipal govern body on regulations, transportation coordinations, airports, even minor issues like which side of the street pick-up is allowed. They also have to hire PR speciality to boost public image, lobbyist to dissuade politicians from initiating any regulations. They still need to pay some sorta insurance for drivers as they are still contractors. These are all huge costs