Robotics Systems Engineer - 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. What you’ll do Pronto is looking for a Robotics Engineer who thrives at system-level debugging and end-to-end feature delivery—taking autonomy capabilities from prototype to reliable performance on real vehicles. You’ll develop, test, and deploy features for our autonomous trucks, and you’ll serve as a technical lead during deployments, owning bring-up, triage, and cross-team coordination in mission-critical environments. Develop, integrate, and validate autonomy features (software + tests) for real-world autonomous vehicle operation. Own system-level debugging: diagnose issues across sensors, compute, networking, controls, and software stacks using logs, metrics, and on-vehicle tools. Lead technical execution for deployments: drive bring-up plans, communicate technical requirements, identify risks, and coordinate fixes with engineering and operations. Support field deployments in mission-critical environments, including periodic travel to customer sites and hands-on on-vehicle debugging. Bring up and integrate new truck platforms: work with hardware and integration teams to add sensors and vehicle signals, calibrate systems, and tune performance. Collaborate across disciplines (hardware, operations, safety, product) to deliver robust, safe, and maintainable autonomy behavior. Travel note: This role requires periodic travel to customer sites (up to 10%) Schedule note: Some schedule flexibility may be required during deployments What we’re looking for 2+ years of professional (non-internship) software development experience. Strong programming skills in at least one modern language (Python, C++, Java, or C#); experience with object-oriented design and building maintainable systems. Proven robotics engineering experience with evidence of system-level ownership (e.g., integration, debugging, performance tuning, field support, or deployments). Ability to design and debug software systems with strong diagnostics (structured logging/metrics, fault isolation, testability) that scale beyond a single vehicle. Working knowledge of core robotics concepts and math (e.g., state estimation/Kalman filtering, localization, planning, controls). Comfort operating in ambiguity—able to define scope, interfaces, milestones, and success criteria to drive a problem to completion. Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to explain technical trade-offs to non-technical partners. Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects through planning, execution, and deployment. Preferred Qualifications Experience deploying autonomy/robotics systems in the field (on-call or deployment rotations, safety-critical troubleshooting, or customer-site support). Experience with any of: sensor fusion, safety systems, camera pipelines, ML for perception, vehicle interfaces (CAN), calibration workflows. Familiarity with robotics tooling and infrastructure (Linux, Git, CI/CD, simulation/test harnesses). 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 location. As a company driven by innovation and continuous change, close collaboration is essential. We’re constantly reimagining our industry, creating new products, and refining our processes, and 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 $182,000 - $230,000 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 and an annual performance-based bonus. 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. Pronto accepts applications on an ongoing basis. Ready to join us as we serve those who serve others? #LI-Onsite