We are looking for a deeply technical Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead programs around the development and scaling of our Matter Compiler — our fully autonomous and modular manufacturing system. This is not a traditional coordination role — it requires someone who has a strong track record of success as an individual contributor (IC) in technical domains, who has chosen to move into program leadership to step into a role where they can influence strategy, align teams across departments, and own outcomes that shape the success of the business.
At Atomic Machines, the way we work is unlike anywhere else. We own the full stack—from manufacturing platform to device design—which gives us the unprecedented ability to learn and iterate completely independently of any other company—placing full control of our pace of innovation in our own hands. We create processes and strategies to strengthen this advantage and move faster than traditional hardware companies. Within this context, TPMs are program owners and leaders. We are accountable for outcomes, not just timelines. Central to the role is implementing and evolving processes that help the organization learn and adapt at breakneck speed. This is not standard program management—this is pioneering work at the intersection of hardware and agile, demanding creativity, rigor, and leadership at the highest level. From a first‑principles perspective, you will design feedback loops, iteration cycles, and cross‑functional collaboration structures that push the boundaries of what’s possible, accelerating both technical learning and organizational progress.
This role may be based out of either office location, Emeryville or Santa Clara, California.
- Institutionalize learnings and scale processes across the organization, amplifying Atomic Machines’ unique ability to iterate independently and accelerate innovation, resulting in faster development cycles and more resilient execution.
- Drive the creation and ownership of program roadmaps for the Matter Compiler, setting measurable goals, defining milestones, and establishing accountability frameworks that directly connect to business outcomes and customer impact.
- Facilitate and lead cross-functional planning sessions, ensuring engineering, operations, and leadership are aligned on deliverables, sequencing, and resource allocations—leading to predictable delivery and reduced cycle times.
- Build and maintain detailed program execution plans that bridge strategy with daily tasks, keeping teams clear on priorities, dependencies, and timelines so progress can be measured, adjusted, and continuously improved.
- Design, pilot, and refine processes for collaboration in the Hybrid Fab environment, enabling rapid design-test-learn cycles across disciplines that accelerate technical learning and product readiness.
- Implement and actively manage risk registers, systematically tracking technical, organizational, and human risks, and updating mitigation strategies as programs evolve—reducing surprises and improving delivery confidence.
- Develop and maintain dashboards, program reviews, and reporting mechanisms that provide real-time visibility into program health for both executives and team members, enabling data-driven decision-making.
- Frame and communicate complex technical trade-offs as structured decision points, ensuring stakeholders understand options, implications, and risks so the organization consistently makes informed, high-quality decisions.
- Author and refine repeatable processes for recurring program challenges such as integration testing, scaling pilot runs into production, and synchronizing cross-team efforts, ensuring repeatability and faster ramp-up for future initiatives.
- 5+ years of experience as a Technical Program Manager, Engineering Manager, or equivalent leadership role in a multi‑disciplinary environment, including leading complex integrated products with electronic/software control from conception to commercial release.
- Additional 5+ years as a hands-on engineer, designing and building complex systems – ideally highly automated precision systems. Your technical depth allows you to have productive highly technical discussions with the engineering team, e.g. driving alignment by assessing various approaches with their associated risks/benefits.
- A passion for unleashing transformative manufacturing capabilities that open the door to products and innovations previously out of reach, and for shaping how those capabilities are brought to market.
- A first‑principles mindset for evaluating technology investments and strategic decisions—such as buy vs. build or when to specialize vs. generalize—that ensures choices strengthen our long‑term competitive advantage.
- Significant technical background with substantive hands-on experience as an engineer designing and building complex systems—ideally highly automated precision systems. This technical depth enables productive, detailed discussions with engineers and the ability to align teams by weighing approaches and risks/benefits.
- Proven ability to structure programs, manage complex dependencies, track risk, and enable predictability in execution.
- Experience managing programs that included:
- Relentlessness in driving through ambiguity to achieve clarity on scope, ownership, and delivery plans.
- Ability and inclination to dive into technical details while staying accountable for program outcomes.
- Deep experience with and conviction around agile methodologies—especially as applied to hardware—and a track record of implementing new processes in startup or fast‑moving environments.
- Experience releasing products to manufacturing following defined, scalable processes.
- Strong leadership presence and excellent communication skills—articulate, concise, and able to earn the trust of both technical and executive stakeholders.
- High EQ and sound judgment for human dynamics in technical organizations; able to align people as effectively as systems.
- At least a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent technical field.
The compensation for this position also includes equity and benefits.
Top Skills
What We Do
Atomic Machines is redefining humanity’s relationship with matter. We see a future where our tools will allow us to reorganize matter at the atomic level at will, where we will go from bits to atoms for any object or machine that can be designed in alignment with physical laws. We have begun our journey with the development of a robotic manufacturing platform capable of making an entirely new class of micro-electromechanical (MEMS) devices. We are well funded and have exceptionally strong product/market fit and a clear go-to-market path for the device we will make first with our platform. Our platform breaks traditional manufacturing paradigms and constraints, enabling inexpensive rapid prototyping as well as large scale manufacturing with highly compelling economics.
Joining forces with us means becoming part of an incredibly talented, inventive and passionate multi-disciplinary team working on a massive world-changing mission. You will have the opportunity to help define the company from its early days. You’ll be challenged to learn and grow as a builder and a leader as the company itself grows rapidly. And you will receive significant equity compensation - you’ll truly be a company owner and benefit financially from our overall success.
