Senior Manager, Robotic Systems Software

Atomic Machines; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Atomic Machines is seeking a Senior Manager, Robotics Software Engineering to own the system-level software layer that orchestrates production nanometer-scale robotic nodes. You will architect the orchestration layer, lead node bring-up through 24/7 production, and build a team focused on reliability and observability.

You will drive deterministic state machines, fault recovery, and tight hardware-software integration, reporting to the Sr.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in automation or robotic systems with leadership experience.
• Proven track record in production-grade orchestration systems.
• Experience with deterministic state machines and fault handling.
• Strong background in hardware-software integration and observability.

Responsibilities

• Architect and own the robotic software stack for production deployment.
• Lead node bring-up from hardware integration to 24/7 operation.
• Define fault detection, automated recovery, and safe-state transitions.
• Build observability: telemetry, diagnostics, and logging for root-cause analysis.
• Stay hands-on in design and code reviews during critical milestones.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, robotics, manufacturing, and infrastructure teams.
• Own delivery and technical direction across production nodes or subsystems.
• Hire and develop engineers to scale the discipline at Atomic Machines.

Skills

Robotics software architecture

Distributed systems

Real-time control

Leadership

Hiring & coaching

Production software engineering

Education

BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics

Job description

Atomic Machines is defining what advanced manufacturing looks like at the micron and nano scale. Our Matter Compiler TM platform integrates precision motion, sensing, vision, and process control into tightly coordinated production nodes — and we're building the software intelligence that makes them run.

We're looking for a Senior Manager, Robotics Software Engineering to own the system‑level software layer that orchestrates those nodes in production. This is the kind of role that doesn't exist at most companies — because most companies aren't doing this. You'll architect the orchestration layer, lead node bring‑up through production stabilization, and build the engineering team that keeps it all running at 24/7 reliability. You'll report directly to the Sr. Director of Platform and collaborate tightly with software, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering counterparts.

What You'll Do

• Architect and build the robotic systems software stack — deterministic workflow engines, sequencing logic, and coordinated control across motion, vision, sensing, and IO subsystems.
• Own node bring‑up end‑to‑end: from first hardware integration through stable, repeatable 24/7 production operation.
• Set and hold the bar for fault detection, automated recovery, and safe‑state transitions — the standards your team ships against.
• Build observability into the foundation: structured telemetry, synchronized diagnostics, and logging that makes root‑cause analysis fast instead of painful.
• Stay hands‑on; meaningful participation in design and code reviews, and direct involvement when the stakes are highest.
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, robotics, manufacturing, and infrastructure teams to keep integration tight and surprises minimal.
• Take full ownership of delivery and technical direction across a set of production nodes or subsystems.
• Hire and develop the engineers who will define this discipline at Atomic Machines — technical excellence and accountability are non‑negotiable.

What You'll Need

• 10+ years building complex automation or robotic systems, with 5+ years leading engineering teams — ideally in environments where hardware and software failure modes are equally high‑stakes.
• Deep, proven expertise designing deterministic orchestration systems or explicit state machines that run in production, not just in demos.
• Strong command of concurrency, event ordering, idempotency, and failure recovery in hardware‑integrated systems — you've debugged these problems at 2am and know how to prevent them.
• A track record taking robotic or automation platforms from prototype through stable, production‑grade operation.
• Experience building or leveraging observability infrastructure for complex hardware‑software systems.
• Working knowledge of real‑time motion or embedded control, and a clear architectural instinct for where real‑time and non‑real‑time layers should meet.
• Demonstrated success hiring, coaching, and scaling strong engineering teams under real delivery pressure.
• Systems‑level thinking that spans hardware and software — you can hold both domains in your head simultaneously.
• BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent professional experience.