Automation Engineer, Physical Sciences

🚀 About Lila Sciences

Lila Sciences is the world’s first scientific superintelligence platform and autonomous lab for life, chemistry, and materials science.  We are pioneering a new age of boundless discovery by building the capabilities to apply AI to every aspect of the scientific method.  We are introducing scientific superintelligence to solve humankind's greatest challenges, enabling scientists to bring forth solutions in human health, climate, and sustainability at a pace and scale never experienced before. Learn more about this mission at  www.lila.ai

At Lila, we are uniquely cross-functional and collaborative. We are actively reimagining the way teams work together and communicate. Therefore, we seek individuals with an inclusive mindset and a diversity of thought. Our teams thrive in unstructured and creative environments. All voices are heard because we know that experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way.

If this sounds like an environment you’d love to work in, even if you only have some of the experience listed below, please apply.

🌟 Your Impact at Lila

Lila Sciences is seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Automation Engineer to participate in the design, development, and implementation of automation solutions for a broad range of laboratory material workflows. Reporting directly to the Physical Science Automation Lead, this role is critical for driving the development of scalable, high-throughput automated systems.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in the design of automated laboratory work flows by collaborating with hardware, controls, and software teams, and working alongside other engineers while actively contributing to experimental automation in a highly dynamic research environment.

🛠️ What You'll Be Building

Technical Responsibilities

• Actively contribute to hands-on development, testing, and implementation of automated workflows in the lab.
• Develop scalable automated solutions for synthesis and characterization workflows, supporting a variety of material systems such as porous materials, catalysts, coatings, and advanced composites.
• Develop scalable and modular laboratory workflows, standard operating procedures, and supporting documentation.
• Drive and participate in Equipment and system FMEA(s).
• Work with hardware and software teams on developing code from the instrument level through the entire software stack.
• Troubleshoot and optimize automated systems for throughput, reliability, and adaptability across diverse workflows.
• Implement failure detection methods and maintain laboratory automation systems to ensure robust operations.

Project Innovation

• Translate scientific goals into technical automation workflows that meet performance and scalability requirements.
• Explore and integrate emerging technologies, such as robotics, machine vision, and advanced sensors, to enhance automation capabilities.
• Ensure alignment of automation solutions with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

🧰 What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong hands-on experience developing and scaling automated workflows in laboratory or industrial settings.
• Expertise in Python programming, including API integration and error handling.
• Demonstrated expertise in CAD design and rapid prototyping, including 3D printing.
• Hands-on experience with hardware systems, including electrical wiring, sensors, liquid/gas plumbing, and PID controllers.
• Strong critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Experience programming and training robotic systems, such as pick-and-place robots.
• Familiarity with advanced experimental systems, including vacuum, laser, furnace, and electrochemical experimentation.
• Knowledge of machine vision applications and robotics control algorithms.
• Proven ability to integrate hardware and controls systems with automation workflows.
• Understanding of AI-driven decision-making in research automation.
• Prior experience leading technical teams in a fast-paced R&D environment.

✨ Bonus Points For

• AI experimental design and simulation
• Automated custom instrumentation
• Generative molecular and material design

🌈 We’re All In

Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

🤝 A Note to Agencies

Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.