Mechatronics Engineer I/II

Lila Sciences; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Generous early equity

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

A pioneering scientific technology company is seeking a Mechatronics Engineer to design and build custom control systems for lab automation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in microcontrollers and hands-on hardware skills, with a passion for problem-solving and innovation. This role offers competitive compensation and opportunities for growth in a dynamic environment in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field or equivalent experience.
• Experience with microcontrollers and embedded systems.
• Strong hardware skills including soldering and debugging.

Responsibilities

• Design and build custom control systems for lab automation.
• Debug electromechanical systems in real-world scenarios.
• Write firmware for microcontrollers.

Skills

Microcontroller familiarity

Hands-on hardware skills

Programming ability in C/C++

Self-motivated problem solver

Education

Undergraduate degree in Mechatronics or related field

Tools

ESP32

Arduino

C/C++ programming

Job description

Your Impact at Lila

We’re seeking a fearless mechatronics engineer who thrives at the intersection of hands‑on hardware and rapid software development. You’ll learn the details of vendor lab equipment quickly, build ESP32‑based control modules to solve blockers, and create the electromechanical systems that enable our AI Science Factory (AISF™) to run autonomously. This role is 50% coding and 50% building things with your hands. One day you’ll debug serial protocols on a liquid handler, the next you’ll solder custom sensor boards because waiting for a vendor solution would delay deadlines. While the job title is Mechatronics Engineer, we need someone to jump into any engineering challenge that arises and grow across the full engineering stack as the team and product evolve.

What You’ll Be Building

• Design and build custom control systems for lab automation—ESP32 modules, sensor integrations, and other solutions to solve problems.
• Utilize vendor equipment when APIs don’t exist or documentation is lacking—read schematics, sniff protocols, and make it work.
• Debug electromechanical systems in the real world—multimeter in hand, fixing what breaks.
• Write firmware and control software—C/C++ for microcontrollers, communicating hardware constraints to higher‑level orchestration teammates.
• Prototype rapidly—3D print mechanical parts, design PCBs, iterate based on what actually works in the lab.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Undergraduate degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field (or equivalent hands‑on experience).
• Comfort with microcontrollers, especially ESP32/Arduino ecosystem—you’ve built blink‑LED projects, read sensors, and communicated over UART.
• Hands‑on hardware skills: soldering, wire wrapping, reading schematics, using multimeters—you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty.
• Programming ability: C/C++, Python, or similar for firmware, debugging serial protocols, and understanding header files.
• Self‑motivated problem solver who doesn’t wait for perfect information—figures things out and moves forward.

Bonus Points For

• Experience with microcontrollers such as ESP32, Arduino, STM32, and peripheral configuration.
• Hardware fundamentals: reading schematics, using multimeters/oscilloscopes, understanding voltage/current/resistance basics.
• Hands‑on skills: soldering, crimping, wire management, mechanical assembly for reliable systems.
• Programming: C/C++ for embedded systems, Python for automation, serial communication concepts.
• Debugging methodology: methodical troubleshooting from “nothing works” to “ship it,” reading datasheets, testing hypotheses, isolating failures.

Nice to Have

• Experience with communication protocols (I²C, SPI, UART, CAN, Modbus, RS‑232/485).
• Familiarity with network protocols or device communication (TCP/IP, HTTP, MQTT) or curiosity about device interaction.
• PCB design experience (KiCad, Eagle, Altium) for custom boards.
• 3D printing and mechanical prototyping skills—CAD basics, quick iterations.
• A portfolio of “things I built”—personal projects demonstrating you make things work.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Built something that controls real hardware—motors, sensors, actuators in working systems.
• Curious about device communication—understanding how your ESP32 connects to Wi‑Fi.
• Debugged issues requiring code changes and physical fixes—thinking across hardware/software boundaries.
• Maker/hacker background—personal projects with electronics, robotics, automation, turning ideas into functioning prototypes.
• Worked through ambiguous problems with incomplete information and still made progress.

About Lila

Lila Sciences is the world’s first scientific superintelligence platform and autonomous lab for life, chemistry, and materials science. We are pioneering a new age of boundless discovery by building the capabilities to apply AI to every aspect of the scientific method. We are introducing scientific superintelligence to solve humankind’s greatest challenges, enabling scientists to bring forth solutions in human health, climate, and sustainability at a pace and scale never experienced before. Learn more about this mission at www.lila.ai.

Compensation

We expect the base salary for this role to fall between $76,000–$125,000 USD per year, along with bonus potential and generous early equity. The final offer will reflect your unique background, expertise, and impact.

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.

A Note to Agencies

Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.