Director, Materials AISF Program Lead

The role

The Program Lead will own the strategy and execution for the Materials Science AISF program. This person will define program charters, budgets, and timelines to expand experimental systems that help AI learn materials science at scale.

What you will do

• Own the Materials Science AISF program strategy, charter, budget, timeline, and success criteria.
• Translate Product, Science, and AI priorities into executable program plans.
• Build the roadmap for expanding Materials Science AISF capabilities.
• Evaluate proof-of-concept results from Scientific Programs and design pathways for platform integration.
• Form, align, and advise cross-functional project teams.
• Resolve resourcing, prioritization, and execution risks.
• Represent Materials Science AISF strategy, status, risks, and decisions in technical leadership reviews.

Required qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in materials science, condensed matter physics, chemistry, or a closely related field, with industry research experience.
• Track record leading complex, multidisciplinary experimental programs.
• Familiarity with Materials Science AISF domains such as vacuum synthesis, characterization, electrochemistry, or nanoporous systems.
• Experience defining and managing technical roadmaps with real resource, budget, and timeline constraints.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Experience leading through influence across matrixed, cross-functional teams.

Nice to have

• Experience with automated or high-throughput experimental platforms, robotics, or lab automation.
• Familiarity with AI/ML-driven experimental design, Bayesian optimization, or closed-loop materials discovery.
• Exposure to atomistic simulation methods and their relationship to experimental programs.
• Experience in a fast-paced research environment such as a national lab, advanced materials startup, or deep-tech company.
• Experience working across shared resources and multiple concurrent programs.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision coverage
• employer-paid life and disability insurance
• flexible time off with generous company wide holidays
• paid parental leave
• educational assistance program
• commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees
• company subsidized lunch program

About the company

Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science.