Device Design Engineer

Atomic Machines is on Earth to radically advance humanity’s command over matter. Our mission is real-time bits-to-atoms manufacturing of anything at any scale, and to that end, we’re developing an entirely new digital micro-device manufacturing platform that is going to redefine how things are made, and do so while simultaneously enabling the rapid creation at any scale of new classes of machines – think medical micro-robotics, true lab-on-chip microfluidics, tunable antennas, ultrafast high-power and high-frequency RF switching devices and many more. The first device we are building with our platform has exceptional large-scale product/market fit and commercial traction, and we are pushing hard to share it with the world.Our offices are in Berkeley and Santa Clara, California.

About this Role:

We are seeking an experienced Design Engineer with a strong grasp of multiphysics design to join our growing Devices Design team. We use the term “MEMS” (micro-electromechanical systems) here, but we separate the concept of a MEMS device from its traditional association with semiconductor manufacturing. We are developing an entirely new manufacturing platform (AMP, the Atomic Machines Platform) from whole cloth, and this is incredibly enabling when it comes to MEMS design. As such, our Device Design Engineer role is unique, as we are free to explore a wide range of potential manufacturing processes and materials, knowing that we can manifest those processes and materials in AMP. Our first device is a case in point: we are utilizing several processes and materials that currently do not exist in a semiconductor fab environment, and this has enabled us to develop a class-defining device that otherwise would never have seen the light of day. Even the device packaging is manufactured with AMP in the very same hardware that builds devices.

This far less constrained environment requires a design team with exceptional multiphysics design skills, creativity and first-principles thinking, and that is exactly what we have built and are looking to now grow. If you come from a traditional MEMS background, you will find that your experience there is a great starting point for working in the Atomic Machines environment, but you will quickly learn and grow, as well, and work closely with other design engineers, process engineers and technicians to advance both our devices and the Atomic Machines Platform in lockstep with each other to achieve truly revolutionary design solutions. 

The ideal candidate has experience in taking a napkin sketch to a functioning prototype and beyond, because they will be responsible for all aspects of designing, prototyping, and testing of a complex subsystem. Our design engineers move seamlessly between design/analysis and hands-on experimentation in the lab. This is an excellent career opportunity for a professional with a strong design background who is excited about defining and utilizing processes that enable new classes of devices to be fabricated and manufactured at scale. The ideal applicant thrives in a highly collaborative workplace, actively engages in the development process and runs toward the hard gritty effort to make things truly work.

What You’ll Do:

• Conceptualize, design and successively refine new approaches or improvements to subsystems or components of our revolutionary first device.
• Explore new manufacturing processes that enable device advancements with the potential to ultimately incorporate into AMP.
• Perform analytical modeling and/or FEM simulations of designs including multiple coupled physical domains.
• Design and execute hands-on experiments to evaluate design solutions with very fast iteration cycles in our R&D lab and Hybrid Fab.
• Perform analysis and characterization using advanced metrology tools such as SEM/EDS, CT scan, optical profilometer, etc.
• Contribute to the development of custom test and measurement setups to characterize experimental prototypes.
• Carefully document design decisions, experimental results, measurements, etc. and maintain ownership of all documentation consistent with the Atomic Machines Product Development Process.
• Work collaboratively in cross-functional engineering teams with contributors from Materials Processing, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, Software, and other disciplines.
• Design for manufacturing in conjunction with other teams to help improve or add to the set of AMP capabilities.

What You’ll Need:

• Track record of designing MEMS/microsystems device components or systems in industry or graduate school, from concept to prototype or product.
• Strong foundation in analysis and design of microscale systems involving multiple coupled physical domains (electrostatic, electromagnetic, piezoelectric, piezoresistive, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, structural mechanics, etc.)
• At least basic knowledge of FEM tools (preferably COMSOL) and CAD software.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work independently and/or cross-functionally.
• Detail orientation, excellent adherence to scientific method, strong work ethic and outcome-focused attitude.
• Master’s or PhD degree, 3+ years of work experience.

Bonus points for:

• Programming experience, particularly in Python.
• Experience with data visualization and analysis tools such as JMP, Matlab, Pandas, matplotlib, etc.
• Industry experience in product development processes such as Agile, ICSM, etc.
• Product engineering and/or reliability testing experience.