Chief Operating Officer

Atomic Machines is building the Matter Compiler™, the first in a new class of AI-native, all-digital manufacturing systems that build working machines directly from code. The Matter Compiler  (MC) is aimed at micro-machines: motors and gears the size of a grain of sand, robots small enough to work inside the body, cooling built directly into the chips that run AI, and the many devices like them that have been waiting on a way to build them. Its first product is PrimeSwitch™, an electromechanical power relay the size of a button battery that carries 150 amps continuous current and opens in 50 microseconds, about a thousand times faster than a conventional contactor. Founded by Jeff Holden — serial entrepreneur, ex-Amazon SVP and Uber’s first Chief Product Officer — the company has raised $250 million to date.

Atomic Machines is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in Emeryville and Santa Clara.

About The Role:

As COO, you are accountable for turning the Matter Compiler into a manufacturing business. You will set the strategy for and lead the organization that designs, builds, and operates a new generation of fully autonomous commercial fabs, and you will be responsible for delivering the production capacity that Atomic Machines’ growth plan depends on. You will build and lead the leadership team across Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Shipping/Receiving, Fab Operations, Real Estate & Facilities, Manufacturing Partnerships, Final Assembly & Test, Quality & Reliability, ERP Systems and Foundry Services. You will make the major capital, site, and partnership decisions that determine how fast and how reliably we can scale, including which contract manufacturers we utilize and how much capacity we build in-house versus with partners.

The Matter Compiler enables a truly AI-native fab that is modular, fully autonomous, and 100% digital. Many traditional manufacturing patterns will not apply: the extremely high degree of automation, the high-mix/high-volume interchangeability, the deterministic process control, the real-time nature of the MC, and our approach to input materials. This leader must bring both a deep understanding of manufacturing and operations theory and practice and first-principles thinking, because we are charting significant new territory in advancing humanity’s command of matter. You will define what operational excellence looks like for a kind of factory that has never existed.

You will also lead the People function, including Talent Acquisition, People Partnerships & Organizational Effectiveness, People Operations, and Compensation & Benefits. You will be accountable for the organizational strategy that lets Atomic Machines scale: how we plan headcount against the production ramp, how we structure and level the company, how we pay, and how we keep the hiring bar and culture intact across Santa Clara, Emeryville, and each new fab as it comes online.

As a member of the executive team reporting to the CEO, you will partner closely with Jeff on company strategy, operating cadence, annual planning and budgets, and represent operations to the board, customers and key partners.

What You’ll Do:

Manufacturing & Fabs

• Own the design and operation of our commercial fabs, including all building infrastructure and non-Matter Compiler equipment selection (power, electrical, gas generation and distribution, fluid distribution, cooling systems, layout of MC Lattices and autonomous inbound/outbound systems) as well as all logistics and labor related to fab operations.
• Lead site selection and build-out so fabs come online on time and in spec relative to forecasted demand.
• Own all contract manufacturing relationships for production MC equipment builds and scaling, and extend the CM network by identifying, vetting, and engaging new partners.
• Stand up, operate, and scale our internal Final Assembly & Test function for all MC equipment.
• Establish economic, resilient supply for all materials and components. Own all supplier and OEM relationships, and set and enforce quality and reliability standards.
• Manage inventory of raw materials, MC components, and finished MC equipment. The real-time manufacturing and generative AI design aspects of the MC challenge norms here.
• Build the framework for managing key manufacturing metrics across the organization: yield, throughput, quality, cost, and uptime.
• Partner with Engineering to enhance and extend the MC’s capabilities.

People & Organization

• Own workforce planning tied directly to fab bring-up and the production ramp, so hiring is never the bottleneck on manufacturing capacity.
• Lead Talent Acquisition at scale, increasing hiring velocity without lowering the bar.
• Design org structure, leveling, and career paths for roles that do not yet exist in traditional manufacturing.
• Own compensation, equity, and benefits philosophy and execution.
• Build manager capability and a performance system that rewards first-principles thinking and ownership.
• Sustain one Atomic Machines culture across Santa Clara, Emeryville and each new fab as it comes online.

Running the Company

• Partner with the leadership team on business process development and deployment, operating cadence, annual planning and budgets.
• Atomic Machines is a narrative-based culture, so it is important to be a strong writer who can articulate strategies and initiatives crisply to drive alignment in the organization and to inspire teams, partners, and customers.
• Translate company goals into operating plans with clear owners and metrics and establish strong control loops around key work.
• Ensure a healthy and safe work environment and compliance with federal and state regulations, including employment law.

What You’ll Need:

• 15+ years in manufacturing and operations leadership, including executive ownership of highly automated manufacturing at scale and direct experience designing, building, and operating a manufacturing facility.
• Prior experience as a COO, GM, or equivalent executive accountable for multiple functions, ideally at a hardware company scaling from early production to volume.
• Experience leading or owning the People function, or a track record of building organizations through rapid headcount growth in close partnership with People.
• Experience owning budgets and capital plans of $100M+ and making major site, capacity, and build-versus-partner decisions.
• A robust network and nuanced understanding of the manufacturing industry and its players, with a record of establishing contract manufacturing partnerships at scale.
• A track record of hiring and developing strong leadership teams and building operationally excellent cultures.
• Comfort representing operations to a board, customers, and strategic partners.
• First-principles thinking: starting from a deep understanding of the problem rather than pattern matching to industry norms, and comfort challenging the status quo when the math or physics points to a better way.
• Excellent communicator: articulate, clear, concise.
• High EQ and real strength in working with people; inspirational and motivational.
• BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or another rigorous engineering discipline.

Compensation:

Base salary range starts at $350,000 annually, is based on experience, and includes equity and benefits.

Atomic Machines is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and does not discriminate based on characteristics protected by applicable law. We are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including for individuals with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact rc@atomicmachines.com. To help our recruiting team manage application volume and respond to candidates more efficiently, Atomic Machines may use AI-assisted tools.