Staff Systems Integration Engineer, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL)

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.

About the role 

We are seeking a Senior Systems Integration Engineer to develop and maintain the hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test benches used to validate our autonomy stack off-vehicle. In this role, you will be responsible for building, instrumenting, and commissioning physical test benches, implementing automation scripts, and supporting daily execution for our software and autonomy teams. This is a deeply hands-on role where you will assemble and wire bench hardware, integrate interface tooling, write reliable test automation, and maintain clear documentation and troubleshooting guides.

What you’ll do

• System Bench Design & Fabrication: Design, build, and commission hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test benches, including schematic capture, component selection, harness fabrication, and mechanical layout. Validate and document correlations between bench and vehicle behavior, noting any hardware fidelity limits or test divergences.
• Vehicle & Network Simulation: Implement vehicle bus and controller simulations across CAN, CAN-FD, and Automotive Ethernet so autonomy compute interacts with complete simulated systems. Set up power/ignition sequencing, drive-by-wire responses, and gateway override interfaces to command specific vehicle test states.
• Sensor Data Replay: Implement and maintain open-loop sensor and telemetry data replay into compute hardware at full rate and time-synchronized to original log timestamps. Assist with integrating interfaces and data pipelines to support repeatable bench testing and future closed-loop test capabilities.
• Test Automation & CI Integration: Develop and maintain automated test scripts and execution pipelines that trigger bench tests from code commits, support release regression testing, run unattended, and generate clear pass/fail test reports.
• Fault Injection & Safety Validation: Implement and execute fault-injection tests—including power loss, communication drops, and degraded-mode behaviors—to validate failsafe handling against safety requirements.
• Vendor & Equipment Coordination: Evaluate, bring up, and maintain commercial bench hardware and software tools. Coordinate with vendors and suppliers on lead times, component orders, and toolchain updates.
• Cross-Functional Triage & Debugging: Support autonomy, software, and hardware engineers using the bench by maintaining bench uptime and tracking issues. Debug bench failures across sensor timing, harnesses, drivers, and compute, documenting root causes and collaborating with engineering teams on fixes.
• Documentation & Best Practices: Maintain comprehensive bench schematics, harness drawings, wire labeling, and operating guides. Train engineers and technicians on bench operation and standard troubleshooting procedures.

What we’re looking for

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s in EE, CE, ME, CS, or related field with 5+ years of experience.
• HIL & Bench Build: Proven track record building, wiring, and commissioning HIL benches, including schematic review, component sourcing, harness fabrication, and bring-up.
• Vehicle Networks: Hands-on experience with CAN, CAN-FD, LIN, and Automotive Ethernet, including restbus simulation, DBC/LDF editing, and bus analysis tools (e.g., Vector CANoe, PCAN, Wireshark).
• Plant & Sensor Modeling: Experience configuring and deploying real-time plant, actuator, sensor, or power models onto real-time target hardware (e.g., Speedgoat, dSPACE, NI).
• Software & Automation: Strong Python for test automation, working familiarity with C/C++ in Linux, and experience integrating test suites into CI pipelines.
• Robotics Middleware & Interfaces: Practical familiarity with ROS/ROS2 (logging, rosbag, replay), high-speed camera links (GMSL/FPD-Link), lidar/radar interfaces, and PTP/gPTP synchronization.
• Fault Injection & Safety: Hands-on execution of fault injection and off-nominal testing (frame drops, signal loss, degraded sensors, power cuts) against safety requirements.
• Execution & Communication: Ability to deliver in fast-moving, evolving hardware/software environments, paired with clear documentation skills for wiring schematics, test procedures, and debug logs.

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 $195,000-$242,000 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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