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 seeking a Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer to own the sensing suite and the overall vehicle-level integration of our on-road autonomous platforms. In this role, you will take a platform from bench, to first vehicle-level operation, to a commissioned fleet, working out how sensors, compute, networks, and actuation come together physically and electrically. You will do this across our own vehicles and OEM partner platforms, and you will build the commissioning and test infrastructure that lets the second vehicle go up twice as fast as the first.
What you’ll do
- Vehicle-Level Integration: Own how sensing, onboard compute, vehicle networks, power distribution, and actuation integrate on our on-road platforms, from the first bench through fleet deployment.
- Sensor Suite Integration: Own the sensing suite on-vehicle, contributing to placement and field-of-view trade-offs, occlusion analysis, mounting and alignment tolerances across platforms, high-speed data and power interfaces, time synchronization, multimodal calibration across cameras, lidar, radar, and GNSS/IMU, and the cleaning and health monitoring that keep sensors working in the field.
- Platform Bring-Up & Commissioning: Drive the technical bring-up of new and refreshed vehicle platforms, and turn one-off builds into a repeatable commissioning process covering device firmware, sensor calibration, safety signoffs, and autonomy software integration.
- Validation & Test Infrastructure: Design and build the HIL benches, breakout hardware, and instrumentation that integrate compute, sensors, and actuators, so software and autonomy teams can develop and regress against a safe, representative platform instead of competing for a vehicle. Define and execute vehicle-level validation, release checking, and regression criteria.
- System-Level Debugging: Own triage and root-cause analysis across sensing, compute, networking, harnesses, connectors, and power, converting findings into design changes, containment actions, and documented corrective actions that measurably raise fleet reliability and uptime.
- Deployment & Fleet Execution: Serve as the technical anchor at test sites, customer demonstrations, and new-market launches, holding the bar on platform health, connectivity, and vehicle uptime when the stakes are highest.
- Engineering Standards & Documentation: Produce and maintain integration design documentation, drawings, build instructions, and incoming verification checks. Build the tooling, pipelines, and dashboards that make platform health measurable, and help engineers and technicians get up to speed on the platform and how to troubleshoot it.
What we’re looking for
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field is required, or equivalent hands-on experience.
- 8+ years integrating, validating, and debugging sensing, compute, and vehicle systems on prototype and production vehicles, in autonomous vehicles, ADAS, EVs, or at an automotive OEM or supplier, with a proven track record of technical ownership.
- Deep hands-on sensor integration experience across cameras, lidar, radar, and GNSS/IMU: placement and field-of-view trade-offs, mounting and dimensional accuracy, high-speed data and power interfaces, time synchronization, and multimodal calibration.
- Experience owning vehicle bring-up and commissioning end to end: firmware installation, sensor calibration, safety signoffs, and autonomy software integration, and building a repeatable process around it rather than a one-time build.
- Experience designing or substantially building hardware-in-the-loop or bench test infrastructure that integrates compute, sensors, and actuators.
- Fluency with automotive networks and diagnostics: CAN, CAN FD, Automotive Ethernet, and the tooling that goes with them, including CANalyzer/CANoe, CANape, Vehicle Spy, and oscilloscopes, plus hands-on wire harness design and integration.
- Comfort working in Linux and scripting in Python or MATLAB/Simulink for data analysis, test automation, and the dashboards and pipelines that surface platform and fleet health.
- Proven ability to navigate highly ambiguous environments, self-direct technical problem-solving, and clearly communicate technical trade-offs to cross-functional partners, OEM counterparts, and customers.
- Willingness to travel to test, customer, and deployment sites, ability to work onsite five days a week in San Francisco, and a valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
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 $176,000 - $238,000 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.
Atoms accepts applications on an ongoing basis.
Ready to join us as we serve those who serve others?
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