What I’m looking for can really be described as one of the following:
- Opus Magnum but the reason to optimize is so that I save resources and generate resources faster?
- Factorio but I can’t expand infinitely and have to instead make the factory more efficient rather than just growing exponentially?
- Compact Claustrophobia but without an infinite number of compact machines?
- Last Clockwinder but with a much greater focus on planning and less on execution?
Check out SpaceChem, matches most of your bullet points. It’s a level-based puzzle game like Opus Magnum though.
I second this, it’s what OP is asking for. Word of warning though: this game is hard as hell. It reached a point where I’d spend 2 hours on a level, realize I messed up and can’t salvage this, and gave up. I never got really far.