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Device Design Engineer
San Francisco
Atomic Machines is ushering in a new era in micromanufacturing with its Matter Compiler (MC) technology. The MC enables new classes of micromachines to be designed and built by offering manufacturing processes and a materials library that is inaccessible to semiconductor manufacturing methods. The MC promises to unlock MEMS manufacturing both for the many device classes that never could be made by semiconductor methods but also to open up entirely new classes. Furthermore, the MC is fully digital in the way 3D printing is digital, but where 3D printing produces parts of a single material using a single process, the MC is a multi-process, multi-material technology: bits and raw materials go in and complete, functional micromachines come out. The Atomic Machines team has also created an exciting first device – one that was only made possible by the existence of the Matter Compiler – that we will be unveiling to the world soon.
Our offices are in Emeryville and Santa Clara, California.
About this Role:
We are seeking a skilled Design Engineer with strong multiphysics skills to join our growing Devices Design team. The devices we develop share similarities with MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) but fundamentally depart from the constraints of traditional semiconductor-based manufacturing. At Atomic Machines, we are building a novel manufacturing platform—the MC (Matter Compiler)—from the ground up. This enables us to explore entirely new materials and processes, making possible a class of devices that could not be fabricated in a conventional fab environment.
This unconstrained environment demands engineers who bring exceptional creativity, first-principles thinking, and a multidisciplinary design approach. While experience in traditional MEMS is valuable, our Design Engineers rapidly grow beyond those frameworks, collaborating closely with design peers, process engineers, and technicians to co-evolve device and platform capabilities.
The ideal candidate has experience taking concepts from initial sketch to working prototype and is comfortable owning all stages of subsystem development—design, prototyping, and testing. Our engineers balance simulation and analysis with hands-on lab work, and thrive in a highly collaborative, fast-moving environment. This is a unique opportunity for an innovative designer eager to define new fabrication processes and help bring breakthrough devices to scale.
This position is full-time, onsite, and is located in our Emeryville location, reporting to the Director of Design Engineering.
What You'll Do:
- Drive the end-to-end design of microscale device subsystems, from concept through simulation, prototyping, testing, and iteration, leveraging the capabilities of our Matter Compiler platform.
- Develop and refine innovative device architectures and components, using advanced materials and processes beyond conventional MEMS.
- Perform analytical modeling and multiphysics simulations (e.g., electrostatics, fluid dynamics, thermal, structural) with tools such as COMSOL.
- Design, build, and iterate on experimental prototypes in a fast-paced R&D environment with short design-test-learn cycles.
- Plan and execute rigorous experimental validation, including the development of custom test setups and protocols tailored to new device functions or phenomena.
- Characterize prototypes using advanced metrology tools, including SEM/EDS, CT scanning, and optical profilometry, to inform design decisions and process improvements.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with process, manufacturing, and mechanical engineering teams to co-develop devices and platform capabilities in parallel.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation of design rationale, simulation data, experimental results, and iteration history, following internal development standards.
- Contribute to the evolution of our design and development workflows, helping shape a world-class engineering process within an emerging, multidisciplinary manufacturing paradigm.
What You'll Need:
- A first-principles mindset — you question assumptions, reframe problems from the ground up, and approach challenges with a foundational understanding rather than relying solely on precedent.
- Proven experience designing microscale device components or systems, such as MEMS or MEMS-adjacent technologies, from concept through prototyping, either in industry or academic research.
- Strong background in the analysis and design of systems involving coupled physical domains, such as electrostatics, electromagnetics, piezoelectric effects, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and structural mechanics.
- Familiarity with analytical modeling methods and experience performing multiphysics simulations using FEM tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics.
- Fluency in CAD tools for microscale design, with the ability to move efficiently between digital models and physical prototypes.
- Hands-on experience designing, building, and executing experiments to validate prototypes, including rapid iteration in an R&D environment.
- Experience with characterization techniques and metrology tools such as SEM/EDS, CT scanning, and optical profilometry.
- Strong documentation skills, with a consistent, methodical approach to recording design decisions, test results, measurements, and iterations.
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams that include process, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers.
- An understanding of design for manufacturability (DFM) principles and the ability to contribute to the development of next-generation Matter Compiler capabilities through device-driven feedback.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and a rigorous, detail-oriented approach to problem-solving and experimentation.
- Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field, with 3+ years of hands-on experience in industry or advanced research settings.
Bonus Points For:
- Programming experience, particularly in Python, for automation, data analysis, or custom tool development.
- Familiarity with data analysis and visualization tools such as JMP, MATLAB, Pandas, and Matplotlib for experimental design, statistical evaluation, and performance analysis.
- Industry experience in structured product development methodologies such as Agile, ICSM, or equivalent systems engineering frameworks.
- Familiarity with product engineering, including design verification, validation, and root-cause failure analysis.
- Experience with reliability engineering, including accelerated life testing, environmental testing, and long-term performance characterization of microscale systems.
- Hands-on experience with MEMS production technologies and fabrication process integration, especially in a research, prototyping, or early-stage manufacturing environment.
$150,000 - $210,000 a year
The compensation for this position also includes equity and benefits.
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