Electrical Design Engineer

About Atomic Semi

Atomic Semi is building a small, fast semiconductor fab.

It’s already possible to build this with today’s technology and a few simplifications. We’ll build the tools ourselves so we can quickly iterate and improve.

We’re building a small team of exceptional, hands-on engineers to make this happen. Mechanical, electrical, hardware, computer, and process. We’ll own the stack from atoms to architecture. Our team is optimistic about the future and we want to continue pushing the limits of technology.

Smaller is better. Faster is better. Building it ourselves is better.

We believe our team and lab can build anything. We’ve set up 3D printers, a wide array of microscopes, e-beam writers, general fabrication equipment - and whatever is missing, we’ll just invent along the way.

Atomic was founded by Sam Zeloof and Jim Keller. Sam is best known for making chips in his garage, and Jim has been a leader in the semiconductor industry for the past 40 years.

About the Team

The Electrical Engineering team experiences all stages of the hardware engineering process, from defining requirements all the way through designing PCBAs and productionization. We design, prototype, and build the custom electrical systems that power our lithography tools, deposition tools, vacuum chambers, and nanometer precision motion control systems.

About the role

As an Electrical Design Engineer, you will own the electrical hardware for our chip fabrication machines end-to-end. You will identify problems, prototype solutions, productionize your prototypes, and deliver finished solutions that revolutionize IC manufacturing. You might work on high-voltage low-noise boost converters, motor drivers, attofarad sensors, and millikelvin temperature controllers all on a single project. You will know you are successful when you have autonomously taken clean-sheet designs through to production, delivering reliable, tested electrical systems that our in-house production team can seamlessly assemble into our fab tools.

Responsibilities

• Own the clean-sheet design of PCBAs and electrical systems for our machines, driving the end-to-end process including schematic capture, layout, bringup, testing, integration, and documentation.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with software, mechanical, and process teams to gather system requirements, performing independent investigations to define targets where requirements are ambiguous or missing.

• Investigate optimal design approaches and perform detailed analysis and simulations to evaluate electrical designs, strategically weighing off-the-shelf components against custom solutions.

• Break down complex hardware challenges into actionable execution plans, earning trust through consistent follow-through from prototype to small-scale production.

Required Experience

• Demonstrated experience owning electrical hardware design end-to-end, successfully taking systems from initial concept through to production.

• Demonstrated proficiency in analog and digital circuit design, mixed-signal design, and hands-on testing (e.g., using multimeters and oscilloscopes).

• Experience with PCB design and simulation tools (Altium, KiCad, LTSpice).

• A track record of taking broad ownership of electrical systems, with the ability to execute work autonomously and adapt quickly in a hands-on, fast-paced maker environment.

Nice-to-haves

• High-speed digital design or low-noise analog frontend design experience.

• Experience working with RF plasmas, pulsed lasers, or semiconductor processing equipment.

• Digitally controlled switching power supply or novel power supply architecture implementation.

• Knowledge of control theory (control loop design, stability analysis) or low-voltage DC inverter design.

• FPGA or firmware development experience.

• Advanced SMT precision rework abilities.

Working at Atomic Semi

We’re an early-stage hardware startup with solid funding, world-class advisors, and a lab/office in San Francisco, CA. 

Compensation: Atomic Semi is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role is $120,000 – $185,000. Compensation is determined based on your qualifications and experience. Our total compensation package also includes generous equity in Atomic Semi.

Benefits: Atomic Semi offers the following benefits, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

• Generous Paid Time Off inclusive of Holidays and Sick Time

• Visa Sponsorship

• Life and Disability Insurance

• Paid Parental Leave

• 401(k) retirement plan

• Weekly Learning & Development opportunities

• Commuter Benefits including Parking and Late Night Uber rides from the office

• Lunches daily, Dinners 3x per week, Stocked Office Kitchen with Snacks and Spindrifts

We are an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or other legally protected statuses.

Export Control Analysis: This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.