Staff Engineering Technician, Vehicle Integration and Test

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 hiring a Staff Engineering Technician to own how our development vehicles get built. You will set the build and workmanship standard, design the fixtures and kitted assemblies that make engineering builds repeatable, and own configuration control across the fleet. You will serve as the final escalation on cross-disciplinary vehicle failures, and as the frontline technical voice into hardware design. This is a full-time, in-person opportunity in our SF HQ shop for builders who thrive in unstructured, fast-paced environments.

What you’ll do

• Own the vehicle build standard, including process, workmanship criteria, checklists, and sign-off
• Design and build the fixtures, jigs, and kitted assemblies that make builds repeatable
• Own fleet configuration control and hardware revision tracking
• Serve as final escalation on cross-disciplinary vehicle failures across mechanical, electrical, and firmware layers
• Drive design-for-manufacturability and design-for-serviceability changes with hardware and autonomy engineering
• Plan and sequence retrofit campaigns, including tooling, parts, and downtime
• Set the training path and workmanship standard for junior and senior technicians
• Track build time and defect rates, and act on them
• Represent shop constraints in program planning
• Help maintain our shop space, where assembly of production parts happens, keeping the space clean and organized

What we’re looking for

• 8+ years of hands-on experience in vehicle integration, prototype build, or electromechanical systems
• Demonstrated ownership of a build process
• Deep wire harness and vehicle electrical expertise, including harness architecture, terminal and connector selection, and grounding schemes
• Experience owning configuration control across a fleet or a family of prototypes
• Ability to lead challenging debug work independently, and to know when a problem requires escalation
• Track record of raising the standard of other technicians through training, review, and written procedure
• Ability to handle many simultaneous projects and tasks
• Must be able to safely lift up to 50lbs and stand for long periods of time
• Experience with autonomous vehicles, EV, motorsport, aerospace, or heavy equipment is a plus
• High-voltage safety training for EV work is a plus
• Experience with CAN tooling, vehicle bus analysis, command line or Linux experience a plus
• Experience with Solidworks or other CAD software is a plus
• Fabrication capability such as machining, welding, or 3D printing is a plus

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 $140,000-$200,000 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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