Robotics Controls Engineer

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

Atoms is looking for a Robotics Controls Engineer to develop, tune, validate, and maintain the core control systems that enable autonomous vehicles to operate safely in complex on-road and highway environments. You’ll work on localization, path following, longitudinal control, steering control, state estimation, and real-time vehicle behavior for public-road autonomous vehicles.

This role may be hired at multiple levels, depending on experience and demonstrated scope of ownership. At more senior levels, this role will include greater ownership of controls architecture, production readiness, system-level validation, release gates, and cross-functional technical leadership.

Responsibilities include

Design, implement, tune, and validate control algorithms for autonomous vehicle systems.
Develop and maintain state estimation pipelines that fuse multiple sensor modalities and vehicle signals.
Analyze controls performance through simulation, log replay, closed-course testing, and field deployments.
Debug controls, localization, and vehicle behavior issues using logs, metrics, replay tools, and on-vehicle testing.
Identify root causes across controls software, state estimation, vehicle interfaces, sensors, timing, and system integration.
Collaborate with perception, planning, systems, hardware, and operations teams to integrate controls into the broader autonomy stack.
Write safety-critical, production-quality C++ and Python code that runs reliably under real-time constraints.
Define and improve validation methods, performance metrics, release criteria, and regression tests for controls behavior.
At senior levels, serve as a technical owner for production readiness of major controls capabilities or vehicle deployments, including cross-team validation and mentoring other engineers.

Travel note: This role requires periodic travel to test sites or deployment hubs (up to 15%).

Schedule note: Some schedule flexibility may be required during deployments.

What we’re looking for

Required BS, MS, or PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
3+ years of professional, non-internship software development, robotics, controls, or autonomy experience; 3+ years or equivalent demonstrated scope for senior-level consideration.
Strong foundation in classical control theory, including PID control, lead/lag compensation, stability analysis, and frequency-domain or time-domain control design.
Experience with state estimation methods such as Kalman filters, EKF, UKF, sensor fusion, or related probabilistic estimation techniques.
Strong programming skills in C++ and Python for real-time software development, numerical computing, testing, and debugging.
Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, kinematics, path tracking, longitudinal control, steering control, and actuator limitations.
Ability to read, debug, optimize, and validate real-time control code under strict timing and reliability constraints.
Experience deploying localization, estimation, or controls algorithms on real-world robotic, vehicle, aerospace, or embedded systems.
Ability to analyze system performance using logs, metrics, simulation, replay, and field-test data.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to explain technical trade-offs to technical and non-technical partners.
For senior-level candidates, demonstrated ability to lead complex controls projects, define validation or release criteria, coordinate cross-functional execution, and mentor other engineers.

Preferred qualifications

Experience with Model Predictive Control, optimal control, or constrained control for real-world systems.
Experience with signal processing, filter design, system identification, controls tuning, or actuator modeling.
Familiarity with trajectory smoothing, path following, motion control, or vehicle control algorithms.
Experience with automotive communication protocols such as CAN, CAN FD, Ethernet, or related vehicle interfaces.
Experience with ROS or similar robotics middleware.
Experience with production autonomy, automotive, aerospace, robotics, or other safety-critical real-time systems.
Familiarity with robotics development infrastructure such as Linux, Git, CI/CD, simulation, log replay, test harnesses, or automated validation pipelines.
Familiarity with modern machine learning techniques applied to controls, estimation, system identification, or vehicle behavior modeling.
Experience with tools or hardware such as NumPy, SciPy, Eigen, NVIDIA Jetson, GPS/RTK, IMUs, CAN interfaces, LiDAR, or radar.

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 $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.
Atoms accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

Ready to join us as we serve those who serve others?

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