Senior Laser Process Engineer

Employer description

Atomic Machines is building the Matter Compiler™, the first in a new class of AI-native, all-digital manufacturing systems that build working machines directly from code. The Matter Compiler™ is aimed at micro-machines: motors and gears the size of a grain of sand, robots small enough to work inside the body, cooling built directly into the chips that run AI, and the many devices like them that have been waiting on a way to build them. Its first product is PrimeSwitch™, an electromechanical power relay the size of a button battery that carries 150 amps continuous current and opens in 50 microseconds, about a thousand times faster than a conventional contactor. Founded by Jeff Holden — serial entrepreneur, ex-Amazon SVP and Uber’s first Chief Product Officer — the company has raised $250 million to date.   Atomic Machines is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in Emeryville and Santa Clara. This full-time position is based in Emeryville within the Process Engineering organization.

About The Role:

We are seeking a senior engineer to help shape the future of our laser-based manufacturing processes from development to scaled production. This role operates at the nexus of process, device design, AI, software and hardware - bridging advanced micromachining, materials physics, and optical systems. You will drive forward laser process development to deliver rapid and effective results across cutting, milling, selective ablation, and welding processes using a suite of in-house-built pulsed-laser machines. You will champion innovative metrology and in-situ sensing to analyze laser-material interactions and feed AI-enabled process optimization. You'll also solve complex toolpath problems using commercial and custom CAD/CAM software.

Just as important as your technical depth is how you work: you identify the gaps and problems and run toward them, you build scalable systems as you go rather than executing a known playbook, and you take strong ownership from development through hand-off to production. The ideal candidate is capable of carrying a processing technology through its entire life cycle - from first principles, to experimentation and prototyping, to a robust, qualified process running at scale on our digital, autonomous manufacturing platform

What You’ll Do:

• Develop, optimize, and scale pulsed-laser manufacturing processes, including cutting, milling, selective ablation, and welding.
• Design and analyze experiments to understand laser-material interactions across metals, ceramics, and polymers - clearly defining goals, hypotheses, inputs, and outputs - and document and standardize processes to ensure reproducibility.
• Manage calibration and verification systems across many machines, build and execute qualification/validation protocols, establish process monitoring and control, and train and hand off to production personnel.
• Troubleshoot equipment, materials, and process issues, driving disciplined root-cause analysis to durable resolution.
• Develop and refine tool paths and machine programs using CAD/CAM and G-code to maximize precision and efficiency.
• Work with laser system design engineers to translate process learnings into system usability, performance, and features.
• Partner with Design, AI, Hardware/Software, and Manufacturing teams while mentoring engineers and technicians to champion best practices and process quality.
• Ensure safe operation of high-power laser systems, adhering to industry standards and internal safety protocols.

What You’ll Need:

• A master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or a related field, and 6-10 years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong foundational knowledge of laser-material interaction and the physics of heating, melting, and ablation, along with heat transfer and thermomechanical phenomena.
• Hands-on experience with laser processing and parameter development (pulsed-laser experience ideal but not required); knowledge of laser and optical system design and performance.
• Experience scaling processes and handing off to production.
• Proficiency in DOE and statistical analysis.
• Experience with Python and ability to leverage AI tools for programming.
• Experience with metrology tools such as optical imaging and profilometry, CMM, SEM/EDS/EBSD, XRF, and X-ray CT.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong ownership and accountability; adaptable to changing priorities and comfortable managing many concurrent tasks.
• A collaborative attitude and team-focused mindset.

The compensation for this position also includes equity and benefits.

Salary Range$220,000—$240,000 USD

Atomic Machines is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and does not discriminate based on characteristics protected by applicable law. We are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including for individuals with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact [email protected]. To help our recruiting team manage application volume and respond to candidates more efficiently, Atomic Machines may use AI-assisted tools.