Automation Engineer I/II, Sustaining Engineering & Lab Operations

Lila Sciences • Cambridge, MA

6d • $75,600 - $124,800 • Onsite

About The Position

Lila Sciences is hiring Automation Engineers to support the AI Science Factory (AISF), an automated platform for drug discovery, bioengineering, and advanced materials. The role is part of Sustaining Engineering & Lab Operations (SELO), a multidisciplinary team responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving the platform. Engineers operate and recover workcells during their assigned shift while developing changes to improve reliability and throughput. They collaborate with mechanical and controls engineers and Research Operations scientists to diagnose cross-disciplinary problems and keep active experiments moving.

The platform runs production across shifts, so improvement work must be planned and coordinated with Research Operations. Engineers negotiate downtime, schedule work in approved windows, and verify changes before returning systems to service. The role also includes structured handoffs at shift overlap, with clear documentation of events, decisions, and open issues.

This is a full-time, on-site role in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Permanent weekday shifts are either first shift, 7:00 AM–3:00 PM, or second shift, 2:00–10:00 PM. Both shifts have the same responsibilities and development ownership, with one hour of overlap for direct handoff.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Materials Science, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• At least 1 year of hands-on experience with lab automation, lab instrumentation, or production operations in a life sciences or physical sciences environment.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot electro-mechanical equipment and software systems and determine when to escalate.
• Strong written communication skills for documenting issues and handing off work between shifts.
• Ability to work effectively across disciplines with mechanical, controls, and software engineers and scientific teams.
• Comfort working in a live production environment where scientists depend on the systems being operated and maintained.
• Availability to work either the listed first- or second-shift weekday schedule on site in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with liquid handlers, plate-based workflows, automated storage, or high-throughput screening instrumentation.
• Familiarity with lab scheduling or workflow orchestration software such as Cellario, Overlord, or Green Button Go.
• Scripting or light programming ability in Python, C#, or similar languages for log analysis, diagnostics, or tooling.
• Familiarity with scientific processes and constraints such as sample stability, timing windows, reagent handling, and the impact of deviations on results.
• Exposure to robotic integration platforms or multi-instrument workcell environments.
• Experience executing preventive maintenance programs or coordinating vendor service relationships.
• Background in a multi-shift or continuous operations environment with structured handoffs.
• Experience with continuous improvement practices, including measuring a system, changing it, and confirming the change held.

Responsibilities

• Operate AISF workcells during the assigned shift; triage instrument faults, software errors, and run failures, recover stalled runs, and decide what to resolve during the shift versus stabilize and hand off.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying reliability, throughput, and recoverability gaps, proposing changes, and overseeing implementation and verification.
• Plan improvement and maintenance work around live production by coordinating downtime with Research Operations, scheduling work into approved windows, and confirming changes before returning systems to service.
• Work with SELO mechanical and controls engineers to resolve issues involving hardware, controls, integration, and software, using operational evidence to identify root causes.
• Execute preventive maintenance and calibrations on schedule, and coordinate vendor service, parts, and spares for issues within scope.
• Coordinate with on-shift Research Operations scientists to prioritize recovery when issues compete and keep active experiments moving while considering scientific constraints.
• Extend runbooks, recovery playbooks, and diagnostic tools to help engineers resolve recurring problems more quickly.
• Document shift events, decisions, and open issues, and conduct structured handoffs in both directions at shift overlap.
• Report recurring failure patterns and process gaps to SELO so root causes and process weaknesses can be addressed.

Benefits

• Competitive base compensation with bonus potential and early-stage equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for full-time U.S. employees.
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance.
• Flexible time off and generous company-wide holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• Educational assistance program.
• Commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office-based employees.
• Company-subsidized lunch program.
• International employees receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level