Staff / Principal Automated Systems Engineer

Your Impact at Lila

Lila Sciences is seeking a highly skilled, hands-on Automated Systems Engineer to design, develop, and implement automation solutions across a broad range of laboratory workflows. Reporting to the Automated Systems Engineering Lead, this role is critical to building scalable, high-throughput automated workcells that translate scientific intent into reliable, real-world systems.

This role serves as a steward of scientific and cross-functional requirements—working closely with scientists, hardware, controls, and software teams to define scope, align interfaces, and drive projects from concept through deployment. The successful candidate will actively partner with scientific partners helping shape the technical direction of experimental automation in a fast-moving 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.
• Define and document standardized laboratory workflows, operating procedures, and system architectures to support reproducibility and scale.
• Lead and participate in equipment- and system-level FMEAs to improve robustness and operational safety.
• Assist in the troubleshooting and optimization of automated systems for throughput, reliability, and adaptability across diverse workflows.
• Design failure detection methods and maintain laboratory automation systems to ensure robust operations.

Project Innovation

• Translate scientific objectives into well-scoped technical requirements and automation architectures.
• Act as a connective tissue between science, hardware, controls, and software—ensuring interfaces are clear and solutions are cohesive.
• Explore and integrate emerging technologies, such 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.
• Understanding of Python programming, including API integration and error handling.
• Understanding of 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.
• 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

Working at Lila Sciences, you would have access to advanced technology in the areas of:

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

About Lila

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

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

Compensation

We expect the base salary for this role to fall between $163,400 - $228,000 USD per year, along with bonus potential and generous early equity. The final offer will reflect your unique background, expertise, and impact.

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.

Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.

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.