Scientist I/II, X-ray Diffraction Characterization

Lila Sciences; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life and disability insurance

Flexible time off

Parental leave

Educational assistance

Commuter benefits

Lunch program

Job summary

Lila Sciences seeks a Scientist I/II, X-ray Diffraction Characterization to join the Materials Science team within the Autonomous Science Platform. The role turns XRD measurements into trusted, machine-readable structural and phase data that support automated workflows and model development.

You will develop PXRD, XRR, GIXRD methods, prepare samples, run measurements, interpret data, troubleshoot issues, and build scalable workflows that ensure data quality and reproducibility across projects.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS with hands-on XRD characterization experience.
• Hands-on experience with PXRD and related workflows.
• Understanding of diffraction principles, phase identification, microstructure analysis, and common measurement errors.
• Experience validating methods, interpreting data, and troubleshooting instrument/workflow issues.
• XRD analysis software, scripting for data processing, and data quality control.

Responsibilities

• Develop PXRD, XRR, GIXRD, and related XRD characterization methods.
• Operate XRD workflows for materials discovery and commercial project support.
• Prepare samples for XRD measurement, run measurements, interpret data, and troubleshoot issues.
• Define calibration, validation, QC, and reproducibility standards for XRD workflows.
• Build structured, traceable data outputs for downstream analysis and modeling.
• Partner with AI, software, automation, and experimental teams on analyzer workflows.
• Maintain instrument readiness through SOPs, documentation, and troubleshooting.
• Translate project needs into fit-for-purpose XRD methods and analysis plans.

Skills

XRD methods & theory

Sample preparation for XRD

Data processing & scripting (Python)

XRD data analysis software

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication across teams

Education

PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering, or related field

MS with hands-on characterization experience

Tools

PXRD

XRR

GIXRD

SOPs & QC systems

Job description

Lila Sciences is seeking a Scientist I/II, X-ray Diffraction Characterization to join the Materials Science team within the Autonomous Science Platform. The Autonomous Science Platform combines experimental science, automation, AI, and software to accelerate materials discovery. This role turns X-ray diffraction measurements into trusted, machine-readable structural, phase, and thin-film data that supports scientific decisions, automated workflows, and model development.

You will develop, validate, and operate XRD characterization workflows across a range of materials systems, including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray reflectometry (XRR), grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), and associated analyses. You will prepare samples for XRD measurement, run measurements, interpret diffraction and reflectometry data, troubleshoot data-quality issues, and build methods that ensure characterization data is accurate, reproducible, and fit for purpose.

You will also help translate XRD expertise into scalable analyzer workflows. Partnering with AI, software, automation, and experimental teams, you will support data ingestion, metadata capture, provenance, quality control, and analysis pipelines that make diffraction outputs reliable, traceable, and useful at scale.

The ideal candidate combines strong experimental judgment in XRD characterization with a deep commitment to making scientific data “good”: reliable, interpretable, reproducible, and trusted by the teams that use it.

What You'll Be Building

• Develop PXRD, XRR, GIXRD, and related XRD characterization methods.
• Operate XRD workflows for materials discovery and commercial project support.
• Prepare samples for XRD measurement, run measurements, interpret data, and troubleshoot issues.
• Define calibration, validation, QC, and reproducibility standards for XRD workflows.
• Build structured, traceable data outputs for downstream analysis and modeling.
• Partner with AI, software, automation, and experimental teams on analyzer workflows.
• Maintain instrument readiness through SOPs, documentation, and troubleshooting.
• Translate project needs into fit-for-purpose XRD methods and analysis plans.

What You'll Need To Succeed

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering, or a related field, or M.S. with equivalent hands-on characterization experience.
• Hands-on experience with X-ray diffraction methods, including PXRD and related materials characterization workflows.
• Strong understanding of diffraction principles, phase identification, microstructure analysis (crystallite size, microstrain, texture), structure-property relationships, and common sources of measurement error.
• Experience preparing samples for XRD measurement, validating methods, interpreting data, and troubleshooting instrument or workflow issues.
• Experience with XRD analysis software, scientific data analysis, or scripting for data processing.
• Ability to turn characterization workflows into reliable, structured, machine-readable data.
• Clear communication skills for working across scientific, AI, automation, and software teams.

Bonus Points For

• Experience with PXRD, XRR, GIXRD, thin-film characterization, or texture analysis.
• Familiarity with automated or high-throughput characterization workflows.
• Experience developing SOPs, QC systems, calibration workflows, or reference standards.
• Proficiency with Python or similar tools for scientific data analysis.
• Experience working with commercial, time-sensitive, or cross-functional technical programs.

CompensationWe 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: $108,000 USD - $170,000 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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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.