Electrochemical Process Engineer

Atomic Machines is ushering in a new era of micromanufacturing with its Matter Compiler™ technology platform. This platform enables new classes of micromachines to be designed and built by providing manufacturing processes and a materials library that are inaccessible to semiconductor manufacturing methods. It unlocks MEMS manufacturing not only for device classes that could never be produced by semiconductor methods, but also for entirely new categories.

Furthermore, this digital platform is fully programmable in the way 3D printing is digital—but whereas 3D printing produces parts of a single material using a single process, the Matter Compiler™ technology platform is a multi-process, multi-material system: bits and raw materials go in, and complete, functional micromachines come out. The Atomic Machines team has also created an exciting first device—made possible only through the Matter Compiler™ technology platform—that we will be unveiling to the world soon.

Our offices are in Emeryville and Santa Clara, California.

We are seeking a process engineer to design novel chemical and electrochemical-based fabrication workflows to manufacture market-defining commercial devices. In this role you will leverage your hands‑on experience of electrochemical processing, chemical formulation, and materials characterization to develop high-performance microsystems. You will apply your first-principles understanding of electrochemistry and materials, incorporating a blend of conventional and novel etching and plating techniques.

The ideal candidate has familiarity with electrochemical processes and is eager to learn and deepen their skill set in these areas. Candidates with experience in batteries and other energy storage or conversion devices will only be considered if they also possess experience in electrochemical processing methods, such as etching and plating. You will contribute to developing multi-step processes, refining and optimizing, and then training technicians to run those processes.

You will play a critical role in translating processes from the R&D to the pilot‑scale fab and then to our digital, autonomous manufacturing platform at scale.

• Develop and implement innovative electrochemical process technologies to advance the functional performance of novel microsystems.
• Develop enabling new additive and subtractive techniques – e.g., leveraging combinations of electrochemical machining, deburring, polishing, anodizing, and electrochemical/electroless plating.
• Design chemical formulations, such as etchants and plating baths, involving acids, bases, and salts in solution, as well as additives that control side reactions.
• Apply advanced electrochemical techniques toward closed-loop learning and process control, such as CV, LSV, EIS, chronoamperometry, RDE, and QCM.
• Design and perform bench-top experiments and analyze, summarize, document, and report out developed procedures, experimental data, and key findings.

• Disciplines of study preferred:
  Electrochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Corrosion Science, Materials, or related fields.
• Understanding of kinetics, mass transport, and thermodynamics as they apply to chemical/electrochemical systems.
• Ability to apply fundamental electrochemical principles to chemical formulation, etching, polishing, and plating for commercial applications.
• Hands-on lab experience designing, modifying, and operating electrolytic cells to perform electrochemical processes (candidates with experience solely in galvanic cells will not be considered).
• Ability to characterize aqueous electrochemical systems to fine-tune electrochemical parameters (voltage, current, electrolyte composition) based on material-specific responses and desired surface finish.
• Experience using a variety of surface characterization techniques, such as SEM, EDS, XRF, profilometry, XPS, AFM, FTIR.
• Experience with CAD software for 2D layouts is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree, 2+ years of work experience.

The compensation for this position also includes equity and benefits.

$135,000 - $170,000 USD