ML PhD Software Engineer Intern

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.

Who you are

• Actively pursuing a PhD degree in Machine Learning, AI, or a related technical field
• Graduating in 2027 or 2028
• 3.7 GPA Minimum
• Leading researcher in Machine Learning and Gen AI 
• A problem-solver who thrives in tackling diverse technical challenges and demonstrates a clear track record of growth and learning
• A take-charge individual who exhibits ownership and takes pride in writing clean, maintainable, and fun code
• Have advanced programming experience in one or more application or systems languages (Go, Python, Ruby, Java, C/C++, etc.)

What you’ll do

As an engineering intern at Atoms, you'll be an integral part of building out the state-of-the-art intelligent machine for the food industry. Your role will encompass a diverse range of responsibilities, including:

• A robust and adaptable LLM evaluation framework that enables continuous performance monitoring and identification of areas for improvement.
• Development of advanced RL techniques tailored to Atoms's LLM applications, leading to more accurate, reliable, and user-satisfying conversational experiences.
• Accelerated development and deployment of next-generation LLM features for Atoms’s LLMs applications.
• Published research findings and open-sourced code (where appropriate) contributing to the broader AI community and enhancing Atoms's reputation. 

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 can be based in Seattle, Los Angeles, Mountain View or San Francisco.  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 starting rate for this role is $70.00 per hour.

Actual compensation will be determined on an individual basis and may vary depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Application Timeline: Getting a head start on your job search? So are we! We’re building our candidate pipeline now for our upcoming Winter/Summer internship positions. Feel free to submit your resume today, we’ll be reviewing applications over the coming weeks and will reach out directly if your background is a match when interviews begin in the Fall.