Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

San Francisco, CA

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.

Design and implement upfitting and assembly lines for new production locations: station design, layout, material flow, work instructions, and ramp support

Analyze existing manufacturing flows for custom computer builds and retrofit kit manufacturing through time and motion studies, line balancing, and takt and cycle analysis, then implement the improvements you identify

Own production floor layout across facilities and optimize flow between kitting and assembly operations

Drive continuous improvement on build time, yield, and ergonomics by optimizing workstation layout and implementing solutions developed with technician feedback and the engineering team

Design and build production tooling, jigs, and fixtures that improve quality and repeatability

Create and maintain version-controlled work instructions, SOPs, and process documentation in partnership with hardware engineering

Define and track process metrics (cycle time, first-pass yield, defect rates) and use the data to prioritize what gets fixed next

Work daily with technicians on the floor to capture process knowledge and turn it into implemented improvements

Partner with hardware and NPI engineering as new designs transfer into production, feeding back manufacturability learnings from the line

Replicate proven production processes to new sites as we scale

5+ years in manufacturing, industrial, or process engineering in production-heavy environments (automotive, aerospace, robotics, EV, industrial equipment)

Degree in industrial, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering, or equivalent experience

Hands-on experience with time and motion studies, line balancing, and factory layout design

Experience taking production from prototype or low volume to scaled output

Working command of lean tools: value stream mapping, kaizen, 5S, root cause analysis

Comfortable on the production floor and equally comfortable in the data: spreadsheets, ERP/MRP systems

Strong communicator across technicians, engineers, and leadership

Highly analytical, data-driven, and genuinely open to learning from the people who run the process every day

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.

This role is based in our San Francisco office. Atoms is a company driven by invention and continuous change - we are constantly…