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Technical Lead, Simulation

San Francisco, CA

Who we are 

Atoms is building the machines that power the next era of progress.

Over the last decade, software has transformed the digital world. But the physical world, where food is made, minerals are mined, goods are moved, and industries are run, remains far less intelligent, far less efficient, and far more constrained. We’re changing that.

Atoms builds Physical AI— real-world robots for the industries that move civilization forward, starting with food, mining, and transport. Our systems are designed to understand, predict, and control the real world with precision, turning complex physical operations into something more reliable, more scalable, and more productive.

This work requires more than robotics. It requires deep integration across hardware, software, AI, operations, manufacturing, and real estate. We don’t just build machines in a lab. We deploy them into real environments, operate them, learn from them, and improve them until they work at scale.

We are roboticists, engineers, operators, and builders. We believe the next great technology companies will not only transform information, but the physical systems that shape everyday life.

 

If you want to work on hard problems with real-world impact, join us.

 

About the role 

We are seeking a Technical Lead for Simulation to own the architecture of our simulation platform and the validation that gates autonomy releases. In this role, you will take simulation from log replay, to scenario suites running in continuous integration, to the pre-vehicle gates a release passes. This role will span across programs, and you will own the build-versus-buy decisions for the platform and the tooling around it. It's a hands-on role designing the simulation platform, setting the team's engineering practices, and hiring and mentoring new engineers.

 

What you’ll do

  • Platform architecture. Own the design of the simulation platform, including simulation clock and step control, run identity, determinism and reproducibility, batch execution, and log storage and indexing. Results must be reproducible and traceable to a software version.
  • Log replay. Own the pipeline that converts recorded logs into replayable test cases, open-loop scoring of perception and localization against ground truth, and closed-loop replay.
  • Scenario execution and coverage. Own the scenario schema and library, coverage definitions, and the structure of commit, nightly, regression, and release-validation suites.
  • Release gating. Define what a release must pass before it reaches a bench, a proving ground, or a site. Own pass criteria, reporting, and the path from a failing scenario to a resolution.
  • Build versus buy. Evaluate commercial simulation platforms against in-house development, make a recommendation with cost, lead time, coverage, and maintenance attached, and own the resulting vendor relationships and service levels.
  • Simulation fidelity. Measure where simulation and vehicle behavior agree and where they diverge, and report it as a standing metric.
  • Technical standard. Set the engineering practices for testing, review, documentation, and reporting of simulation results. Mentor engineers on the team and participate in hiring.
  • Cross-functional interfaces. Internal customers are autonomy engineering and robotics, safety, testing, and others. Represent simulation's priorities and constraints to them, and carry their requirements into the roadmap.

 

What we’re looking for

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field with 8+ years of relevant experience
  • 2+ years as a technical lead or engineering manager, setting technical direction and driving consensus across engineers and stakeholders.
  • Ownership of a simulation platform running in production continuous integration, with accountability for determinism and reproducibility, execution at scale.
  • Hands-on experience building log replay at scale, including scoring against ground truth and handling divergence in closed-loop replay.
  • Experience with scenario-based testing at the system level, covering scenario libraries, coverage definitions, and test suite architecture.
  • Proficiency in C++ and Python, including the ability to read, navigate, and debug large existing codebases.
  • Demonstrated build-versus-buy judgment on simulation or test infrastructure, including the maintenance cost the decision carried afterward.
  • Experience with an autonomous vehicle or robotics platform. Working understanding of autonomous systems end to end, including sensing, perception, localization, planning, and controls.
  • Working experience with a robotics middleware and its logging and replay tooling.
  • Experience handling autonomous driving or robotics sensor data across multiple modalities and timestamps, including camera, LiDAR, and radar.
  • Track record of mentoring engineers and raising the technical standard of a team.
  • Working fluency with modern AI coding and agentic development tools.
  • Ability to work onsite five days a week in San Francisco.

 

Why join us

At Atoms, you’ll work on one of the defining challenges of our time—bringing automation into the physical world to drive real, lasting impact. We exist to uncover valuable unknown truths and turn them into progress, which means constantly pushing beyond what’s known and building what doesn’t yet exist. The work is ambitious and often challenging, but it’s grounded in a shared sense of purpose and a team committed to seeing it through together. Our work only matters if it serves others, and we know that meaningful progress depends on the trust of the people we serve and the strength of our team—so we invest in both, creating an environment where you can do your best work and grow.

 

What else you need to know

This role is based in our San Francisco office. Atoms is a company driven by invention and continuous change - we are constantly reimagining our industries, building new products, and refining how we operate. We do our best work together. That’s why all of our office-based teams work onsite, five days a week.

The base salary range for this role is $208,000 - $263,000 per year.

Actual compensation will be determined on an individual basis and may vary depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for equity awards.

Benefits Summary (USA Full-Time Exempt Employees):

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account / Health Savings Account Options
  • 401(k)
  • Equity
  • Sick Time, Unlimited Flexible Time Off, and Paid Holidays
  • Paid Parental Leave 
  • Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit Plan
  • Team lunch in our SoMa office every Tuesday and Thursday

Benefits are subject to change at the company's discretion.
Atoms accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

 

Ready to join us as we serve those who serve others? 

 

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