Software Engineer, Backend

Department: Engineering

Location: San Francisco Office, Austin

Compensation: $125K – $195K

Employment Type: FullTime

About Atomic Semi

Atomic Semi is building a small, fast semiconductor fab.

It’s already possible to build this with today’s technology and a few simplifications. We’ll build the tools ourselves so we can quickly iterate and improve.

We’re building a small team of exceptional, hands-on engineers to make this happen. Mechanical, electrical, hardware, computer, and process. We’ll own the stack from atoms to architecture. Our team is optimistic about the future and we want to continue pushing the limits of technology.

Smaller is better. Faster is better. Building it ourselves is better.

We believe our team and lab can build anything. We’ve set up 3D printers, a wide array of microscopes, e-beam writers, general fabrication equipment - and whatever is missing, we’ll just invent along the way.

Atomic was founded by Sam Zeloof and Jim Keller. Sam is best known for making chips in his garage, and Jim has been a leader in the semiconductor industry for the past 40 years.

About the Team

The Fab Software team builds the product that runs our entire fab—a central web app used to manufacture chips. Our users are internal process engineers. We build tools for managing hardware, monitoring and controlling systems in real time, designing processes, and analyzing experimental data. The work on this team spans frontend, backend, and data, all focused on making the fab programmable, observable, and easy to operate as we push toward a fully software-defined chip manufacturing process driven by AI and ML orchestration.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Backend Software Engineer to build the core systems that power our fab product. You will focus on backend architecture, data models, and bridging the gap between our central web applications and physical manufacturing hardware. You will know you are successful when process engineers can seamlessly and reliably control, monitor, and orchestrate fab hardware in real-time through the systems you’ve architected.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and development of high-performance backend APIs (Go, Rust, gRPC) that power our central fab product.

• Break down complex manufacturing challenges into actionable data models (recipes, runs, tools, wafers, jobs) and technical plans for yourself and the broader team.

• Integrate web applications with underlying hardware and embedded systems, ensuring seamless, real-time operations.

• Ensure the reliability, observability, and performance of mission-critical manufacturing systems, holding yourself and the team accountable to clear timelines.

• Drive the long-term system architecture, challenging existing assumptions to support our evolving fab processes and yield optimization goals.

Required Experience

• Demonstrated command of best practices in backend systems engineering, specifically with Go, Rust, or gRPC.

• Experience leading and delivering highly complex, business-critical production systems from end to end.

• Deep understanding of systems fundamentals: concurrency, networking, and databases.

• Proven ability to own systems under real-world constraints, including failure recovery, troubleshooting, and on-call support.

• A track record of earning trust, providing clarity to your team, and leading by example through consistent follow-through.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working with hardware or embedded systems.

• Deep database knowledge (Postgres internals, migrations, performance tuning).

• Interest in networking, security, or distributed systems.

• Experience running a homelab or building infrastructure for fun.

Working at Atomic Semi

We’re an early-stage hardware startup with solid funding, world-class advisors, and a lab/office. 

Compensation: Atomic Semi is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role is $125,000 – $195,000. Compensation is determined based on your qualifications and experience. Our total compensation package also includes generous equity in Atomic Semi.

Benefits: Atomic Semi offers the following benefits, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

• Generous Paid Time Off inclusive of Holidays and Sick Time

• Visa Sponsorship

• Life and Disability Insurance

• Paid Parental Leave

• 401(k) retirement plan

• Weekly Learning & Development opportunities

• Commuter Benefits including Parking and Late Night Uber rides from the office

• Lunches daily, Dinners 3x per week, Stocked Office Kitchen with Snacks and Spindrifts

We are an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or other legally protected statuses.

Export Control Analysis: This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.