diff --git a/pdm.lock b/pdm.lock
index bba10e0e3..128043400 100644
--- a/pdm.lock
+++ b/pdm.lock
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ groups = ["default", "dev", "doc"]
 cross_platform = true
 static_urls = false
 lock_version = "4.3"
-content_hash = "sha256:7c9349fd0b2c2d5448eb58bfba7701983bff94e26bf00510038cf0e1339c3cc2"
+content_hash = "sha256:c2995ea995ac3393ea3e9e41bfe2ecbb41d84836e2f0c6aaa3dc81d93c727adc"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "amazon-braket-default-simulator"
@@ -2227,6 +2227,20 @@ files = [
     {file = "pluggy-1.3.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:cf61ae8f126ac6f7c451172cf30e3e43d3ca77615509771b3a984a0730651e12"},
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "plum-dispatch"
+version = "2.2.2"
+requires_python = ">=3.8"
+summary = "Multiple dispatch in Python"
+dependencies = [
+    "beartype>=0.16.2",
+    "typing-extensions; python_version <= \"3.10\"",
+]
+files = [
+    {file = "plum_dispatch-2.2.2-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:d7ee415bd166ffa90eaa4b24d7c9dc7ca6f8875750586001e7c9baff706223bd"},
+    {file = "plum_dispatch-2.2.2.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:d5d180225c9fbf0277375bb558b649d97d0b651a91037bb7155cedbe9f52764b"},
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pre-commit"
 version = "3.4.0"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index b9a7155ba..bd02ae646 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "plotext>=5.2.8",
     "beartype>=0.15.0",
     "simplejson>=3.19.1",
+    "plum-dispatch>=2.2.2",
 ]
 requires-python = ">=3.9"
 readme = "README.md"
diff --git a/src/bloqade/ir/location/transform.py b/src/bloqade/ir/location/transform.py
index 41e7a2e4f..62a7d0604 100644
--- a/src/bloqade/ir/location/transform.py
+++ b/src/bloqade/ir/location/transform.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from beartype.vale import Is
 from typing import Annotated
 from beartype import beartype
+from plum import dispatch
 import numpy as np
 from bloqade.ir.scalar import cast
 
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ def scale(self, scale: ScalarType):
 
         return ListOfLocations(location_list)
 
-    @beartype
+    @dispatch
     def _add_position(
         self, position: Tuple[ScalarType, ScalarType], filling: Optional[bool] = None
     ):
@@ -61,8 +62,8 @@ def _add_position(
 
         return ListOfLocations(location_list)
 
-    @beartype
-    def _add_position_list(
+    @dispatch
+    def _add_position(  # noqa: F811
         self,
         position: List[Tuple[ScalarType, ScalarType]],
         filling: Optional[List[bool]] = None,
@@ -86,11 +87,11 @@ def _add_position_list(
 
         return ListOfLocations(location_list)
 
-    @beartype
-    def _add_numpy_position(
+    @dispatch
+    def _add_position(  # noqa: F811
         self, position: PositionArray, filling: Optional[BoolArray] = None
     ):
-        return self._add_position_list(
+        return self.add_position(
             list(map(tuple, position.tolist())),
             filling.tolist() if filling is not None else None,
         )
@@ -98,11 +99,11 @@ def _add_numpy_position(
     def add_position(
         self,
         position: Union[
-            Tuple[ScalarType, ScalarType],
-            List[Tuple[ScalarType, ScalarType]],
             PositionArray,
+            List[Tuple[ScalarType, ScalarType]],
+            Tuple[ScalarType, ScalarType],
         ],
-        filling: Optional[Union[bool, list[bool], BoolArray]] = None,
+        filling: Optional[Union[BoolArray, List[bool], bool]] = None,
     ) -> "ListOfLocations":
         """add a position or list of positions to existing atom arrangement.
 
@@ -113,25 +114,15 @@ def add_position(
                 position to add
             filling (bool | list[bool]
             | numpy.array with shape (n, ) | None, optional):
-                filling of the added position(s). Defaults to None.
+                filling of the added position(s). Defaults to None. if None, all
+                positions are filled.
+
 
         Returns:
             ListOfLocations: new atom arrangement with added positions
 
         """
-        if isinstance(position, tuple) and isinstance(filling, (bool, type(None))):
-            return self._add_position(position, filling)
-        elif isinstance(position, list) and isinstance(filling, (list, type(None))):
-            return self._add_position_list(position, filling)
-        elif isinstance(position, np.ndarray) and isinstance(
-            filling, (np.ndarray, type(None))
-        ):
-            return self._add_numpy_position(position, filling)
-        else:
-            raise TypeError(
-                f"cannot interpret arguments, got {type(position)} "
-                f"for position and {type(filling)} for filling"
-            )
+        return self._add_position(position, filling)
 
     @beartype
     def apply_defect_count(
diff --git a/tests/test_builder.py b/tests/test_builder.py
index a402e5bc2..1d32aafea 100644
--- a/tests/test_builder.py
+++ b/tests/test_builder.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # import bloqade.builder.backend as builder_backend
 import bloqade.ir.routine.quera as quera
 import bloqade.ir.routine.braket as braket
+from plum import NotFoundLookupError
 
 from bloqade.ir.control.waveform import instruction
 from bloqade.ir import rydberg, detuning, hyperfine, rabi
@@ -67,9 +68,9 @@ def test_add_position_dispatch():
     position = np.array([[1, 2], [3, 4]])
     position_list = list(map(tuple, position.tolist()))
 
-    a = start.add_position(position)
-    b = start.add_position(position_list)
-    c = start.add_position(position_list[0]).add_position(position_list[1])
+    a = start.add_position(position, np.array([True, False]))
+    b = start.add_position(position_list, [True, False])
+    c = start.add_position(position_list[0]).add_position(position_list[1], False)
 
     assert a.location_list == b.location_list
     assert a.location_list == c.location_list
@@ -77,6 +78,15 @@ def test_add_position_dispatch():
     with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
         start.add_position(position_list, [True])
 
+    with pytest.raises(NotFoundLookupError):
+        start.add_position(position_list, True)
+
+    with pytest.raises(NotFoundLookupError):
+        start.add_position(position_list, np.array([True, True]))
+
+    with pytest.raises(NotFoundLookupError):
+        start.add_position(position, [True, True])
+
 
 def test_piecewise_const():
     prog = start.rydberg.detuning.uniform.piecewise_constant(