Associate Engineer/ Engineer I, Formulations and Characterization

Socket.dev; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Lila Sciences in Cambridge, MA is seeking an Associate Engineer / Engineer I to join our fast-paced Research Operations team. You’ll work hands-on with formulation characterization using rheology, chemistry, and mechanical testing, while gaining exposure to advanced laboratory automation and scalable processes.

You will collaborate with scientists to run experiments across shifts, prepare reagents, follow SOPs, and record data with meticulous attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical/Materials Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent laboratory experience).
• 1 year of experience with bench top and wet lab environments in an industrial setting performing characterization, mechanical testing (must have peel and shear experience), pipetting, chemical handling, and solution and sample preparation
• Hands-on experience characterizing, synthesizing, and testing materials such as coatings, solutions, adhesives, paints, and elastic materials
• Experience working and disposing of acids and bases, synthesis in fume hoods, and handling powders
• Experience working in high-throughput production environments with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and accuracy
• Curiosity to learn new skills and techniques relevant to materials science
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Responsibilities

• Characterize formulations rheologically, thermally, and chemically; perform mechanical tests on polymer specimens.
• Perform wet-lab material characterization and formulation of coatings, solutions, adhesives, paints, and elastic materials
• Prepare reagents, solutions, test specimens, and consumables for seamless shift experiments
• Follow detailed SOPs to ensure accuracy, reproducibility, and throughput
• Monitor workflow performance, troubleshoot common issues, and elevate when necessary to ensure continuity between shifts
• Record, organize, and maintain experimental data with high attention to detail
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and streamline processes across shift operations
• Flag unusual features or results for scientist review
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to support diverse projects across life sciences and physical sciences

Skills

Peel and shear testing

Bench top & wet lab experience

Materials synthesis & characterization

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical/Materials Engineering, or a related field

Job description

Your Impact at LILA

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Engineer / Engineer I to join our high-throughput Research Operations team. In this role, you will focus on hands‑on material formulation characterization using synthesis techniques relevant to rheology, material chemistry, and mechanical properties.

You will gain hands‑on experience with state‑of‑the‑art automation technologies while contributing directly to projects that drive our company’s growth.

This is an excellent opportunity for candidates excited to learn engineering principles, work with advanced laboratory automation, and develop a strong foundation in scientific operations in a dynamic, shift‑based environment.

What You’ll Be Building

• Conduct rheological, thermal, and chemical characterization/measurements of formulations, and perform mechanical testing on polymer‑based specimens, such as tensile, peel, and shear tests
• Perform wet‑lab materials characterization and formulation of materials including coatings, solutions, adhesives, paints, and elastic materials
• Prepare reagents, solutions/electrolytes, test specimens, and consumables to ensure seamless continuation of experiments across shifts
• Follow detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure accuracy, reproducibility, and throughput
• Monitor workflow performance, troubleshoot common issues, and elevate when necessary to ensure continuity between shifts
• Record, organize, and maintain experimental data with high attention to detail
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and streamline processes across shift operations
• Flag unusual features or results for scientist review
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to support diverse projects across life sciences and physical sciences

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical/Materials Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent laboratory experience)
• 1 year of experience with bench top and wet lab environments in an industrial setting performing characterization, mechanical testing (must have peel and shear experience), pipetting, chemical handling, and solution and sample preparation
• Hands‑on experience characterizing, synthesizing, and testing materials such as coatings, solutions, adhesives, paints, and elastic materials
• Experience working and disposing of acids and bases, synthesis in fume hoods, and handling powders
• Experience working in high‑throughput production environments with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and accuracy
• Curiosity to learn new skills and techniques relevant to materials science
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Bonus Points For

• Additional familiarity with: materials processing, mechanical testing techniques (tensile, tack, high temp), rheology, calorimetry (TGA/DSC), spectroscopy (IR), polymer‑based systems, materials characterization (SAXS/WAXS, DLS/SLS, Optical Microscopy, Elemental Analysis)
• Basic engineering skills for troubleshooting characterization tools such as centrifuges, pipettes, ovens, chemical handlers, glove box, and pumps
• Familiarity with automated workflows and techniques to operate and generate custom scripts

Compensation

We offer competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early‑stage equity. Your final offer will reflect your background, expertise, and expected impact.

U.S. Benefits.

• Full‑time U.S. employees receive a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• employer‑paid life and disability insurance
• flexible time off with generous company wide holidays
• paid parental leave
• an educational assistance program
• commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees
• and a company subsidized lunch program

International Benefits.

• Full‑time employees outside the U.S. receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region.
• USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.-based positions; international salaries are set to local market.

Expected Base Salary Range

$68,000—$100,800 USD

About LILA

Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard‑coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.

LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy. Learn more at www.lila.ai.

Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance.

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.

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