Chief Operating Officer

Atomic Machines•Santa Clara, CA

About The Position

Atomic Machines is developing the Matter Compiler™, an AI-native, all-digital manufacturing system designed to build working machines directly from code. Its first product is PrimeSwitch™, an electromechanical power relay. The company is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in Emeryville and Santa Clara. The Chief Operating Officer is accountable for turning the Matter Compiler into a manufacturing business by setting the strategy for and leading the organization that designs, builds, and operates autonomous commercial fabs. The COO will deliver the production capacity required by the company’s growth plan and lead functions spanning manufacturing engineering, supply chain, fab operations, facilities, manufacturing partnerships, final assembly and test, quality and reliability, ERP systems, foundry services, and People. The role includes major capital, site, and partnership decisions, including the balance between in-house capacity and contract manufacturing. The COO will define operational excellence for a new kind of modular, autonomous, digital factory, applying manufacturing expertise and first-principles thinking to its automation, high-mix/high-volume interchangeability, deterministic process control, real-time operation, and input materials. The COO will also lead the People function, including Talent Acquisition, People Partnerships and Organizational Effectiveness, People Operations, and Compensation and Benefits. This includes workforce planning, organizational structure and leveling, compensation, hiring standards, and sustaining the company culture as it scales across existing offices and new fabs. As an executive team member reporting to the CEO, the COO will partner on company strategy, operating cadence, annual planning, and budgets, and represent operations to the board, customers, and key partners.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in manufacturing and operations leadership.
Executive ownership of highly automated manufacturing at scale, including 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 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.
Robust manufacturing-industry network and nuanced understanding of its participants, with a record of establishing contract manufacturing partnerships at scale.
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 and comfort challenging industry norms when the math or physics supports a better approach.
Excellent, articulate, clear, and concise communication skills.
High emotional intelligence and strength in working with people; inspirational and motivational leadership.
BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or another rigorous engineering discipline.

Responsibilities

Set the strategy for and lead the organization responsible for designing, building, and operating commercial fabs.
Own the design and operation of commercial fabs, including building infrastructure, non-Matter Compiler equipment, logistics, and labor related to fab operations.
Lead site selection and build-out so fabs come online on time and in line with specifications and forecast demand.
Own contract manufacturing relationships for production Matter Compiler equipment and identify, vet, and engage additional partners.
Stand up, operate, and scale the internal Final Assembly and Test function for Matter Compiler equipment.
Establish resilient, cost-effective supply for materials and components; own supplier and OEM relationships and enforce quality and reliability standards.
Manage inventory of raw materials, Matter Compiler components, and finished equipment.
Establish organization-wide frameworks for manufacturing metrics, including yield, throughput, quality, cost, and uptime.
Partner with Engineering to enhance and extend Matter Compiler capabilities.
Lead workforce planning tied to fab launch and production ramp, and scale Talent Acquisition while maintaining hiring standards.
Design organizational structure, leveling, and career paths; own compensation, equity, and benefits philosophy and execution.
Build manager capability and a performance system that rewards first-principles thinking and ownership.
Sustain a consistent company culture across Santa Clara, Emeryville, and new fabs.
Partner with the leadership team on business processes, operating cadence, annual planning, and budgets.
Translate company goals into operating plans with clear owners and metrics, and establish control loops around key work.
Communicate strategies and initiatives clearly in writing to align and inspire employees, partners, and customers.
Ensure a healthy and safe work environment and compliance with federal and state regulations, including employment law.
Represent operations to the board, customers, and strategic partners.