Co-op Mechatronics Engineer: Build Real Lab Automation Hardware

Lila Sciences, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Lila Sciences is seeking a Co-op Mechatronics Engineer to join the Hardware & Controls Engineering team in Alewife for the January through May term. You will work on automated workcells, sensing hardware, motion systems, and integrated lab equipment, building real hardware in a fast-moving R&D environment.

As a hands-on engineer, you will move between mechanical design, electrical integration, prototyping, testing, and documentation, collaborating with engineers and scientists to turn lab needs

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field.
• Experience with CAD design, prototyping, fabrication, or hands-on engineering projects.
• Foundational understanding of mechanical systems, electrical systems, sensors, actuators, or controls.
• Comfortable building, testing, debugging, and documenting physical systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail in hands-on technical work.
• Clear communication skills and ability to collaborate across engineering and scientific teams.
• Curiosity about lab automation, instrumentation, robotics, or autonomous science.

Responsibilities

• Design and build mechanical and electromechanical components for automated lab systems.
• Support integration of sensors, actuators, motion systems, and control hardware.
• Create CAD models, drawings, prototypes, fixtures, and test setups.
• Assemble, debug, and iterate on hardware for workcells and custom instrumentation.
• Run tests, document results, and communicate design changes clearly.
• Collaborate with engineers and scientists to translate lab workflows into reliable systems.
• Contribute to improvements that increase system reliability, usability, and maintainability.

Skills

CAD design

Prototyping

Fabrication

Sensors

Actuators

Controls

Test & debugging

Documentation

Collaboration

Lab automation curiosity

Education

Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics (pursuing)

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Lila Sciences is seeking a Co-op Mechatronics Engineer to join the Hardware & Controls Engineering team in Alewife for the January through May term. You will work on automated workcells, sensing hardware, motion systems, and integrated lab equipment, building real hardware in a fast-moving R&D environment.

As a hands-on engineer, you will move between mechanical design, electrical integration, prototyping, testing, and documentation, collaborating with engineers and scientists to turn lab needs