Benjamin Thorne is a Lead Software Engineer in San Francisco with 10 years of experience at the intersection of simulation, optimization, and machine learning. Trained as an astrophysicist (PhD, Oxford), he transitioned from academic research roles at Princeton, Tokyo, and UC Davis into applied ML and engineering positions at Berkeley Lab and Atomic Industries. He builds production-ready systems that blend scientific rigor with software engineering best practices, moving models from experimental prototypes to scalable deployment. His background as a physicist gives him an uncommon strength in principled modeling and numerical simulation, enabling robust solutions for complex inverse and optimization problems. As a hands-on leader, he has progressed from machine learning engineer to lead engineer within Atomic Industries, mentoring teams while driving technical direction. He pairs deep research experience with practical engineering, making him adept at translating novel algorithms into reliable products.
10 years of coding experience
6 years of employment as a software developer
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Astrophysics, Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Astrophysics at University of Oxford
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Benjamin Thorne - Lead Software Engineer at Atomic Industries