Platform Scientist I/II, Functional Materials Instrumentation

The role

You will design and integrate custom instruments and specialized hardware to fabricate, characterize, and test novel functional materials and devices. This work involves building lab capabilities to accelerate technical programs and strengthen the platform offering.

What you will do

• Establish fabrication and measurement workflows for functional materials.
• Specify, source, assemble, and validate custom synthesis and characterization systems.
• Lead integration of instrumentation into autonomous lab and AI-driven experimental workflows.
• Diagnose, iterate, and improve instrument designs based on experimental feedback.
• Partner with computational, synthesis, and characterization teams to define hardware capabilities.

Required qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in applied physics, materials science, chemistry, or a related field.
• Scientific domain of expertise in functional materials (semiconductor, photonics, superconducting materials etc.).
• Expertise in solid state syntheses and characterization for functional materials.
• Proven ability to build and integrate hardware for novel and high throughput experimentation.
• Ability to work in fast, data-driven, high-throughput R&D environments.

Nice to have

• Proficient in writing software for controls, data collection, and analysis.
• CAD, machining/3D printing, and rapid prototyping for custom hardware.
• Knowledge of AI/ML-driven discovery workflows or autonomous lab platforms.
• Experience with class 4 lasers

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 into an operating system for science.