Scientist I/II, Characterization and Composition Analysis

The role

This role turns elemental measurements into machine-readable composition data to support scientific decisions and automated workflows. You will perform hands-on characterization using XRF, SEM-EDS, and WDS while developing and maintaining analyzer software.

What you will do

• Own data quality and integrity for elemental and materials characterization workflows.
• Develop XRF, EDS, and WDS methods, calibrations, and QC procedures.
• Prepare standards, run samples, interpret spectra, and troubleshoot measurement issues.
• Lead investigations for anomalous or out-of-specification data.
• Design, write, and maintain analyzer software for spectral processing and quantification.
• Build automated data ingestion, metadata, provenance, and quality-control workflows.
• Maintain instrument readiness through calibration, documentation, and SOPs.
• Support safe operation of general materials characterization workflows.
• Evaluate and develop methods for new analytical detectors.
• Collaborate with hardware, automation, AI, and software teams.

Required qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or a related field, or M.S. with equivalent hands-on characterization experience.
• Hands-on experience with XRF, SEM-EDS, and WDS for elemental analysis.
• In-depth knowledge of the physical principles behind XRF, EDS, and WDS analysis.
• Strong understanding of calibration, quantification, spectral interpretation, and data-quality control.
• Experience preparing standards, validating methods, and troubleshooting measurement issues.
• Experience writing analysis notebook and maintaining shared, tested code in a version-controlled codebase.
• Proficiency with Python or an equivalent coding environment for data analysis, automation, or analyzer development.
• Ability to translate characterization workflows into reliable, structured, machine-readable data.
• Clear communication skills for working across scientific, AI, automation, and software teams.

Nice to have

• Experience with EPMA or related elemental microanalysis workflows.
• Experience with broader characterization techniques such as electron microscopy, optical microscopy, XRD, XPS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, SIMS, or related analytical methods.
• Familiarity with spectral quantification or analysis tools such as fundamental parameter models, PyMCA, DTSA-II, Probe Software, BadgerFilm, or similar packages.
• Experience developing calibration workflows, reference standards, SOPs, or QC systems for analytical instruments.
• Experience building training datasets or automated analysis pipelines from instrument data.

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. The company combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments to execute the scientific method autonomously.